Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

वाराणस्यां पुरा संस्था मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । हाटकेश्वरदेवस्य दर्शनार्थं समुत्सुकाः

Transliteration

vārāṇasyāṃ purā saṃsthā munayaḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ | hāṭakeśvaradevasya darśanārthaṃ samutsukāḥ

Translation

Autrefois, à Vārāṇasī, des sages établis dans des vœux loués furent saisis d’ardeur pour obtenir la vision du Seigneur Hāṭakeśvara.

Word by Word

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adverbial (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• संस्थाः: dwelling; settled
• संस्थाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle) ‘संस्थित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शंसितव्रताः: of praised vows; renowned for vows
• शंसितव्रताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—शंसितम् (praised) + व्रतम् (vow)

• हाटकेश्वरदेवस्य: of Lord Hāṭakeśvara
• हाटकेश्वरदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाटकेश्वर-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—हाटकेश्वरस्य देवः (the god Hāṭakeśvara)

• दर्शनार्थम्: for (the purpose of) seeing
• दर्शनार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दर्शनस्य अर्थः (for the purpose of seeing)

• समुत्सुकाः: eager; keen
• समुत्सुकाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of austere sages in Vārāṇasī, clad in bark/ochre, with kamaṇḍalu and daṇḍa, gathered near a ghāṭ or āśrama, speaking of their eagerness to behold Hāṭakeśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Vārāṇasī
• Hāṭakeśvara
• Munayaḥ (Sages)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Holy resolve and disciplined vows culminate in darśana—seeking the living presence of Śiva at a sacred site.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Vārāṇasī (Kāśī), specifically the deity/locale of Hāṭakeśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse highlights vrata (religious observance) and the pilgrimage intention for darśana, without detailing a specific rite.