Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

राज्यक्षमस्तदा राज्ये गाधिना स नियोजितः । अनिच्छमानः स्वं राज्यं पितृपैतामहं महत्

Transliteration

rājyakṣamastadā rājye gādhinā sa niyojitaḥ | anicchamānaḥ svaṃ rājyaṃ pitṛpaitāmahaṃ mahat

Translation

രാജ്യഭാരം വഹിക്കാൻ യോഗ്യനായിരുന്നിട്ടും അന്ന് ഗാധി അവനെ രാജസ്ഥാനത്ത് നിയോഗിച്ചു; എങ്കിലും പിതൃ–പൈതാമഹപരമ്പരയായി ലഭിച്ച ആ മഹാരാജ്യം അവൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചില്ല.

Word by Word

• राज्यक्षमः: capable of ruling the kingdom
• राज्यक्षमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (राज्ये क्षमः = ‘kingdom-capable’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• गाधिना: by Gādhi
• गाधिना: Karana/Agent-instrument (Instrument/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नियोजितः: was appointed/assigned
• नियोजितः: Karma (Predicate complement/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + युज् (धातु) → नियोजित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः (‘was appointed’)

• अनिच्छमानः: not desiring
• अनिच्छमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन् + इच्छ् (धातु) → अनिच्छमान (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमानकाले)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्तः (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; स्वकीय-वाचक विशेषण

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पितृपैतामहम्: ancestral (of father and grandfather)
• पितृपैतामहम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पैतामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (पितृ-सम्बन्धि च पैतामह-सम्बन्धि च)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (deduced; Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A capable prince/king stands before sage-king Gādhi and the royal court; the throne is offered, yet his face shows calm detachment, eyes lowered in restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Gādhi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even rightful power can be approached with detachment; inner renunciation is praised alongside duty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is identified in this verse; it provides character background within the Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it concerns appointment to rule and a disposition of non-attachment.