Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

लिंगस्य पूजनार्थाय प्रेरणीयाश्च नागराः । पूजया तस्य लिंगस्य वृद्धिं यास्यति तेऽन्वयः

Transliteration

liṃgasya pūjanārthāya preraṇīyāśca nāgarāḥ | pūjayā tasya liṃgasya vṛddhiṃ yāsyati te'nvayaḥ

Translation

ലിംഗപൂജനാർത്ഥം നാഗരരെ പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കണം. ആ ലിംഗത്തെ ആരാധിച്ചതാൽ നിങ്ങളുടെ വംശം വർദ്ധിയും സമൃദ്ധിയും പ്രാപിക്കും.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गस्य: of the liṅga
• लिङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पूजनार्थाय: for the purpose of worship
• पूजनार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/recipient; dative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पूजनस्य अर्थः)

• प्रेरणीयाः: to be urged / should be prompted
• प्रेरणीयाः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेरणीय (कृदन्त; √प्रेर् (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; कृदन्तः—तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे ‘प्रेरणीय’ (to be urged/should be prompted)

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

• नागराः: the citizens (Nāgaras)
• नागराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पूजयā: by worship
• पूजयā: Karana (Instrument/means; करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लिङ्गस्य: of the liṅga
• लिङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वृद्धिम्: increase, prosperity
• वृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यास्यति: will attain
• यास्यति: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्वयः: lineage, family
• अन्वयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating a community directive tied to kṣetra worship)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A town assembly of Nāgaras being urged toward liṅga-pūjā; the liṅga is central, adorned with bilva leaves, flowers, and water offerings; elders and householders listen as the promise of lineage prosperity is proclaimed.

Characters & Entities

• Nāgaras
• Liṅga (Yājñavalkyeśvara/Hāṭakeśvara context)
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Collective devotion to Śiva in a sacred place strengthens both spiritual merit and social continuity (lineage prosperity).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra sphere where the revered liṅga (Yājñavalkyeśvara) is worshipped.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Liṅga-pūjā (worship of the Śiva-liṅga), promoted as a communal practice with promised auspicious results.