Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

स तं शिशुं समालोक्य नखाग्रान्मूर्द्धजावधिम् । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयन ईषद्धास्यमथाऽकरोत्

Transliteration

sa taṃ śiśuṃ samālokya nakhāgrānmūrddhajāvadhim | vismayotphullanayana īṣaddhāsyamathā'karot

Translation

അവൻ ആ ശിശുവിനെ നഖാഗ്രം മുതൽ ശിരസ്സിലെ കേശം വരെ നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു; വിസ്മയത്തോടെ കണ്ണുകൾ വിരിഞ്ഞു, പിന്നെ അല്പം പുഞ്ചിരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

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

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

• शिशुम्: child
• शिशुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• समालोक्य: having looked at
• समालोक्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-लोक् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्यय-क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• नखाग्रात्: from the tip of the nails
• नखाग्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नखस्य अग्रः)

• मूर्द्धजावधिम्: up to the hair on the head (hairline/crown)
• मूर्द्धजावधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्द्धज + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मूर्द्धजानाम् अवधि)

• विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनः: whose eyes were widened with wonder
• विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय + उत्फुल्ल + नयन (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विस्मयेन उत्फुल्ले नयने यस्य)

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पता-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (slightly)

• हास्यम्: a smile/laughter
• हास्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• अकरोत्: he did/made (he smiled)
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene āśrama setting: a learned brāhmaṇa carefully examines a small child from feet to head, eyes widened in wonder, then a restrained, knowing smile; the father watches attentively.

Characters & Entities

• Sāmudrika expert
• Mārkaṇḍa (Mārkaṇḍeya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious signs and enlightened discernment are portrayed as confirmations of dharmic destiny unfolding within a sanctified āśrama.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The hermitage locale (near Camatkārapura) remains the implied sacred setting; the tīrtha-mahātmya develops through the ongoing account.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it narrates an examination according to sāmudrika-śāstra, not a rite.