Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पालयित्वा नयाद्भूमिं मखैः संतर्प्य देवताः । स्वर्गं गतो महातेजा रामो राजीवलोचनः

Transliteration

pālayitvā nayādbhūmiṃ makhaiḥ saṃtarpya devatāḥ | svargaṃ gato mahātejā rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ

Translation

ധർമ്മനീതിയോടെ ഭൂമിയെ ഭരിച്ചു, യാഗങ്ങളാൽ ദേവന്മാരെ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തി; മഹാതേജസ്സുള്ള പദ്മനേത്രനായ രാമൻ സ്വർഗത്തിലേക്ക് ഗമിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• पालयित्वा: having ruled/protected
• पालयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: णिजन्त-पाल-धातोः त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (क्त्वान्त/gerund); English: absolutive “having governed/protected”

• नयात्: by good policy/justice
• नयात्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; English: masculine ablative singular; ‘नयात्’ = ‘नयेन/नयात्’ (by/through policy; ablative used adverbially)

• भूमिम्: the earth
• भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मखैः: with sacrifices
• मखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; English: masculine instrumental plural

• संतर्प्य: having satisfied
• संतर्प्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु) + सम्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: सम्-तृप्-धातोः ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (ल्यबन्त/gerund); English: absolutive “having satisfied”

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (कर्मत्वे); English: feminine accusative plural

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Gati-Karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थकक्रियायां कर्मवत्; English: masculine accusative singular

• गतः: went
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: गम्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: महा + तेजस्
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘रामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; English: masculine nominative singular adjective

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• राजीवलोचनः: lotus-eyed
• राजीवलोचनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजीव-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: राजीव + लोचन
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘राजीवसदृशे लोचने यस्य सः’; ‘रामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; English: masculine nominative singular adjective (possessive compound)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced: Āvantya Khaṇḍa narration style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāma seated as ideal king dispensing justice; sacrificial fires with priests offering oblations; devas subtly present receiving satisfaction; final serene ascent—Rāma radiant, lotus-eyed, moving toward celestial realm.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Devatās
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Righteous governance and sacrificial responsibility uphold cosmic harmony; such dharmic living culminates in auspicious transcendence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse highlights ideals of dharma (naya) and yajña.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sacrifices (makha/yajña) are referenced as a means of sustaining deities and order, but no specific rite is detailed.