Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

सेवते पापनिचयैर्निगाढप्रायबन्धनैः । क्षुत्क्षामं च तृषाक्रांतं महाभारसमन्वितम्

Transliteration

sevate pāpanicayairnigāḍhaprāyabandhanaiḥ | kṣutkṣāmaṃ ca tṛṣākrāṃtaṃ mahābhārasamanvitam

Translation

Il est étroitement lié par des monceaux de péchés amassés—par des liens serrés et lourds—dévoré par la faim, accablé par la soif, et chargé d’un immense fardeau.

Word by Word

• सेवते: experiences/undergoes
• सेवते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पाप-निचयैः: by heaps of sins
• पाप-निचयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + निचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (पापानां निचयः)

• निगाढ-प्राय-बन्धनैः: by very tight bindings
• निगाढ-प्राय-बन्धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगाढ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (निगाढं प्रायं बन्धनं येषु)

• क्षुत्-क्षामम्: emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (क्षुत्या क्षामम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तृषा-आक्रान्तम्: overcome by thirst
• तृषा-आक्रान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृषा (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ + क्रम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तृषया आक्रान्तम्); आक्रान्त = क्त (PPP)

• महाभार-समन्वितम्: laden with a great burden
• महाभार-समन्वितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभार (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम् + अन्वि/इ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (महाभारेण समन्वितम्); समन्वित = क्त (PPP)

Speaker

Narrative voice not explicit (continuation of karmic consequence description)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A human figure weighed down by a massive dark burden (mahābhāra) and bound by thick ropes labeled as sins; the body appears emaciated, reaching toward a distant tīrtha/temple light symbolizing release.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sin is depicted as binding bondage that matures into suffering; dharma and restraint are urged implicitly.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it functions as a general karmic warning within the chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive of the burden and torment produced by pāpa (sin).