Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तत्रैव क्षत्रियान्हत्वा रक्तमादाय तद्बहु । तां गर्तां पूरयामास चकार पितृतर्पणम्

Transliteration

tatraiva kṣatriyānhatvā raktamādāya tadbahu | tāṃ gartāṃ pūrayāmāsa cakāra pitṛtarpaṇam

Translation

Là même, après avoir tué les kṣatriyas et pris une grande quantité de leur sang, il remplit cette fosse et fit des offrandes de satisfaction aux ancêtres (pitṛ-tarpaṇa).

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय; locative adverb

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय; emphatic particle

• क्षत्रियान्: kṣatriyas
• क्षत्रियान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त); gerund/absolutive

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त); gerund/absolutive

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; demonstrative used adjectivally qualifying 'रक्तम्'

• बहु: much / abundant
• बहु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'रक्तम्'

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

• गर्ताम्: pit
• गर्ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

• पूरयामास: filled
• पूरयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूरय् (धातु; causative of पूर्/पॄ)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; perfect 3rd person singular (periphrastic-like usage)

• चकार: did / performed
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; perfect 3rd person singular

• पितृतर्पणम्: offering to the ancestors (tarpana)
• पितृतर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

Speaker

Sūta (implied narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gartatīrtha / Raktagarta (implied by description)

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A grim battlefield quiets: Paraśurāma stands near a deep pit; blood is gathered and poured to fill it. Then he turns solemn, offering water with sesame (tilodaka) to the ancestors—hands cupped, gaze lowered.

Characters & Entities

• pitṛs (ancestors)
• kṣatriyas
• Rāma (implicit)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ancestral obligations (pitṛ-kārya) are central in dharma; the narrative links major historical acts with ritual duty toward the pitṛs.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A specific pit/trench is referenced, but the verse does not provide a proper name; such features often become localized tīrthas in later description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pitṛ-tarpaṇa (offerings to the ancestors) is explicitly mentioned.