Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

परमं दैवतं किंचिन्न विप्राद्विद्यते परम् । तस्मान्मे हृत्स्थितं नान्यदपि राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे

Transliteration

paramaṃ daivataṃ kiṃcinna viprādvidyate param | tasmānme hṛtsthitaṃ nānyadapi rājyaṃ triviṣṭape

Translation

Nulle divinité suprême n’est connue au-delà du vipra (brāhmane). Aussi rien d’autre ne demeure en mon cœur, pas même la royauté au ciel de Triviṣṭapa.

Word by Word

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• daivatam: deity, divine object
• daivatam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• kiṃcit: anything, something
• kiṃcit: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcit (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• viprāt: from a Brahmin
• viprāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Case 5), एकवचन; अपादान (source/ablative)

• vidyate: exists, is found
• vidyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/अस्त्यर्थे प्रयोगः (exists/is found)

• param: higher, superior
• param: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: tad)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययप्रयोगः (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• me: of me, my
• me: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• hṛtsthitam: situated in (my) heart
• hṛtsthitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त, √sthā)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘स्थित’; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हृदि स्थितम् = situated in the heart)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• anyat: anything else
• anyat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन

• api: even, also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also/even)

• rājyam: kingdom, sovereignty
• rājyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन

• triviṣṭape: in heaven (Svarga)
• triviṣṭape: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triviṣṭapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

Speaker

Vṛtra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vṛtra declares that no divinity surpasses the vipra; a visual contrast can show a faint, distant Indra’s heaven (Triviṣṭapa) receding, while the luminous symbol of Veda/brāhmaṇa-tejas dominates the foreground near Brahmā.

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtra
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Triviṣṭapa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Renunciation of even heavenly ambition is praised when one seeks the higher path of dharma, learning, and spiritual authority.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; the focus is on values articulated within the Puṣkara-centered narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it expresses vairāgya (dispassion) and the prioritization of brāhmaṇatva over celestial rewards.