Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 78

Devanagari script

स्मृतिज्ञं लक्षणज्ञं तमाहिताग्निं यशस्विनम् । यष्टारं बहुयज्ञानां भर्तृयज्ञमते स्थितम्

Transliteration

smṛtijñaṃ lakṣaṇajñaṃ tamāhitāgniṃ yaśasvinam | yaṣṭāraṃ bahuyajñānāṃ bhartṛyajñamate sthitam

Translation

അവൻ സ്മൃതി-ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞനും ശുഭലക്ഷണജ്ഞനും, ആഹിതാഗ്നിയും യശസ്വിയും ആയിരുന്നു. അനേകം യജ്ഞങ്ങളുടെ കർത്താവും ഭർത്തൃയജ്ഞന്റെ യജ്ഞശാസനത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതനുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• स्मृतिज्ञम्: knower of Smṛti (tradition/law)
• स्मृतिज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘स्मृतिं जानाति’); विशेषण (तम्)

• लक्षणज्ञम्: knower of characteristics/marks
• लक्षणज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘लक्षणं जानाति’); विशेषण (तम्)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आहिताग्निम्: one who has established the sacred fires
• आहिताग्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहित + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (‘आहितः अग्निः यस्य’—आहिताग्नि as established-sacred-fire holder); विशेषण (तम्)

• यशस्विनम्: glorious, renowned
• यशस्विनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (तम्)

• यष्टारम्: sacrificer, performer of sacrifices
• यष्टारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बहुयज्ञानाम्: of many sacrifices
• बहुयज्ञानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘बहवः यज्ञाः’); सम्बन्धः (यष्टारम्)

• भर्तृयज्ञमते: in the doctrine of Bhartṛyajña
• भर्तृयज्ञमते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृयज्ञ + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘भर्तृयज्ञस्य मतम्’ = doctrine/tenet)

• स्थितम्: standing, established, abiding
• स्थितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (तम्)

Speaker

Deductive: Skanda (narrating the Tīrthamāhātmya)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait-like depiction of the renowned āhitāgni priest: sacred fires, ladles, kusa grass, manuscripts; his calm authority and ritual readiness emphasized.

Characters & Entities

• Bhartṛyajña

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma praises integrated holiness—scriptural knowledge, right conduct, and sustained sacrificial discipline.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The immediate passage continues the Garttā-tīrtha context, highlighting the saintly person associated with the tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It extols āhita-agni (maintaining sacred fires) and the performance of many yajñas, implying Vedic sacrificial observance.