Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 70

Devanagari script

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं धनहीनो महद्धनम् । शत्रूञ्जयति संग्रामे स्मृत्वा तं गणनायकम्

Transliteration

aputro labhate putraṃ dhanahīno mahaddhanam | śatrūñjayati saṃgrāme smṛtvā taṃ gaṇanāyakam

Translation

പുത്രനില്ലാത്തവന് പുത്രനെ ലഭിക്കുന്നു, ധനഹീനന് മഹാധനം ലഭിക്കുന്നു; ആ ഗണനായകനെ സ്മരിച്ചാൽ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ശത്രുക്കളെ ജയിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अपुत्रः: a sonless man
• अपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 3rd person singular present

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• धनहीनः: a poor man
• धनहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; ‘धनेन हीनः’ (devoid of wealth)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective to धनम्

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• शत्रून्: enemies
• शत्रून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural

• जयति: conquers
• जयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular present

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having remembered’

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

• गणनायकम्: Gaṇanāyaka (leader of the gaṇas)
• गणनायकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (phala-śruti)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra (Gaṇanāyaka-smaraṇa-māhātmya)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Three vignettes: a couple praying for a child, a poor devotee receiving prosperity, and a warrior remembering Gaṇanāyaka before battle—Gaṇapati’s presence as a protective aura removing impediments.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇanāyaka (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṇeśa-remembrance and devotion are portrayed as removing lack—of progeny, wealth, and victory—by divine support.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The promise is situated within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya stream of the Nāgarakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Smaraṇa (remembrance) of Gaṇanāyaka is highlighted as a potent practice for success and protection.