Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

पिपासाकुलचित्तश्च मुखेन परिशुष्यता । न कंचिद्ददृशे तत्र भुंजानमपरं दिवि

Transliteration

pipāsākulacittaśca mukhena pariśuṣyatā | na kaṃciddadṛśe tatra bhuṃjānamaparaṃ divi

Translation

ദാഹത്താൽ വ്യാകുലമായ മനസ്സോടെയും വായ് വരണ്ടുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ അവിടെ ആരെയും ഭക്ഷിക്കുകയോ കുടിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്നതായി അവൻ കണ്ടില്ല।

Word by Word

• पिपासाकुलचित्तः: whose mind was distressed by thirst
• पिपासाकुलचित्तः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pipāsā + ākula + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन = Masculine, Nominative singular; विशेषण (वसुसेनः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• मुखेन: with (his) mouth
• मुखेन: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन = Neuter, Instrumental singular

• परिशुष्यता: while drying up
• परिशुष्यता: Kriya (Circumstantial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√śuṣ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन = present participle, Instrumental singular; क्रियाविशेषणभावे = 'while drying up'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध) = negation particle

• कंचित्: anyone
• कंचित्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन = Accusative singular; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite)

• ददृशे: he saw
• ददृशे: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद = Perfect, 3rd person singular, middle; अर्थे: 'saw'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) = adverb of place

• भुञ्जानम्: eating/enjoying
• भुञ्जानम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले परस्मै/आत्मनेपद-शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन = present participle, Accusative singular; 'one who is eating/enjoying'

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन = Masculine, Accusative singular; विशेषण (कंचित्)

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन = Feminine, Locative singular

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (contextual narration within Tīrthamāhātmya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a bright celestial realm, Vasusena’s lips are parched; he looks around in confusion and distress, finding no one engaged in eating or drinking.

Characters & Entities

• Vasusena
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Desire and deprivation can persist when merit is mixed; purification is needed beyond mere attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it functions as narrative support within the broader tīrtha-glorification chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse describes a karmic state (thirst and lack of nourishment).