Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

चिंतयन्मनसा वीरस्तपः कर्तुं समुद्यतः । स वै तत्र तपस्तेपे शाकमूलफलाशनः

Transliteration

ciṃtayanmanasā vīrastapaḥ kartuṃ samudyataḥ | sa vai tatra tapastepe śākamūlaphalāśanaḥ

Translation

मन में गहन चिंतन करते हुए वह धीर वीर तप करने को उद्यत हुआ। वहाँ वह शाक, मूल और फल का आहार लेकर तपस्या करने लगा।

Word by Word

• चिन्तयन्: thinking
• चिन्तयन्: Karta (Agent in participial clause/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वीरः: the hero/brave one
• वीरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (infinitive)

• समुद्यतः: resolved/ready
• समुद्यतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + यम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शाकमूलफलाशनः: one who ate vegetables, roots, and fruits
• शाकमूलफलाशनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाक + मूल + फल + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (शाक-मूल-फल) इति समाहारस्य तत्पुरुषः—तद् आशनः (one who eats)

Speaker

Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solitary ascetic in a sacred grove near Ayodhyā, seated in contemplation with a simple leaf-bowl of roots and fruits; the Sarayū’s calm presence implied in the background; atmosphere of resolve and restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇuśarman
• Ayodhyā (implied by context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred place bears fruit when approached with inner resolve and disciplined living; tapas refines devotion into spiritual power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā is the implied setting where the devotee undertakes austerity, reinforcing its status as a potent kṣetra for sādhana.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An ascetic regimen is implied: undertaking tapas with a simple diet of vegetables, roots, and fruits.