Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

कथं कपिजलं पुत्रं व्यासाल्लेभे शुचिस्मिता

Transliteration

kathaṃ kapijalaṃ putraṃ vyāsāllebhe śucismitā

Translation

ശുചിസ്മിത (പവിത്രയും മൃദുഹാസ്യവതിയും) ആയ ആ സ്ത്രീ വ്യാസനിൽ നിന്ന് ‘കപിജല’ എന്ന പുത്രനെ എങ്ങനെ ലഭിച്ചു?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण

• कपिजलम्: Kapijala (name)
• कपिजलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिजल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (as son)

• व्यासात्: from Vyāsa
• व्यासात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• लेभे: obtained/received
• लेभे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शुचिस्मिता: the pure-smiling lady
• शुचिस्मिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि + स्मिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (शुचिः स्मिता यस्याः/या)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative question within the dialogue; immediately followed by Sūta’s reply in the next verse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pure, softly smiling woman (śucismitā) respectfully questions or receives a boon; Vyāsa, austere and radiant, is present; the theme is the mysterious obtaining of a son named Kapijala.

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Kapijala

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It introduces a dhārmic lineage narrative, prompting reflection on how righteous progeny and life-stages unfold under sacred order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse itself does not name a specific tīrtha; it functions as a lead-in within the Tīrthamāhātmya chapter’s broader sacred-geography discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None is stated in this verse.