Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

वृक्षस्थाः पितरो देवाः प्राणिनां हित काम्यया । वृक्षाणां सेवनं श्रेष्ठं सर्वमासेषु सर्वदा

Transliteration

vṛkṣasthāḥ pitaro devāḥ prāṇināṃ hita kāmyayā | vṛkṣāṇāṃ sevanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sarvamāseṣu sarvadā

Translation

ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳ ಹಿತವನ್ನು ಬಯಸಿ ಪಿತೃಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ದೇವರುಗಳು ವೃಕ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ವೃಕ್ಷಸೇವೆ ಸರ್ವಕಾಲದಲ್ಲೂ, ಸರ್ವಮಾಸಗಳಲ್ಲೂ, ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಆಚರಣೆ.

Word by Word

• vṛkṣa-sthāḥ: situated on trees
• vṛkṣa-sthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (√sthā धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (स्थिताः = standing/being situated)

• pitaraḥ: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समनाधिकरण (pitaraḥ)

• prāṇinām: of living beings
• prāṇinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• hita: welfare, benefit
• hita: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā धातु से निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘हितम्’ (sandhi-lopa in text)

• kāmyayā: by the wish (to do good)
• kāmyayā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ/करणे (by/for the sake of desire)

• vṛkṣāṇām: of trees
• vṛkṣāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• sevanam: service/attendance (to trees)
• sevanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sevana (प्रातिपदिक; √sev धातु से भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śreṣṭham: best
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘sevanam’ इति विशेषण

• sarva-māseṣu: in all months
• sarva-māseṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (in all months)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Gālava

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sacred grove where luminous Pitṛs and Devas are subtly depicted residing within tree trunks/canopies; devotees offer water and circumambulate; animals and birds appear protected, emphasizing universal welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Trees (Vṛkṣāḥ)
• Living beings (Prāṇinaḥ)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tree-care is elevated to a perennial dharma because it supports life and honors both devas and ancestors.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya narrative frame, though the verse universalizes the dharma beyond one locale.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevana (service) of trees—nurturing, protecting, and honoring them—is prescribed as an always-valid meritorious act.