Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

सेवते पापनिचयैर्निगाढप्रायबन्धनैः । क्षुत्क्षामं च तृषाक्रांतं महाभारसमन्वितम्

Transliteration

sevate pāpanicayairnigāḍhaprāyabandhanaiḥ | kṣutkṣāmaṃ ca tṛṣākrāṃtaṃ mahābhārasamanvitam

Translation

അവൻ പാപസഞ്ചയങ്ങളാൽ, കെട്ടിപ്പിടിച്ച ഭാരമേറിയ ബന്ധനങ്ങളാൽ ദൃഢമായി ബന്ധിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; വിശപ്പാൽ ക്ഷീണിച്ച്, ദാഹംകൊണ്ട് പീഡിതനായി, മഹാഭാരത്തോടെ ലദിതനാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सेवते: experiences/undergoes
• सेवते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पाप-निचयैः: by heaps of sins
• पाप-निचयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + निचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (पापानां निचयः)

• निगाढ-प्राय-बन्धनैः: by very tight bindings
• निगाढ-प्राय-बन्धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगाढ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (निगाढं प्रायं बन्धनं येषु)

• क्षुत्-क्षामम्: emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (क्षुत्या क्षामम्)

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

• तृषा-आक्रान्तम्: overcome by thirst
• तृषा-आक्रान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृषा (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ + क्रम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तृषया आक्रान्तम्); आक्रान्त = क्त (PPP)

• महाभार-समन्वितम्: laden with a great burden
• महाभार-समन्वितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभार (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम् + अन्वि/इ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (महाभारेण समन्वितम्); समन्वित = क्त (PPP)

Speaker

Narrative voice not explicit (continuation of karmic consequence description)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A human figure weighed down by a massive dark burden (mahābhāra) and bound by thick ropes labeled as sins; the body appears emaciated, reaching toward a distant tīrtha/temple light symbolizing release.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sin is depicted as binding bondage that matures into suffering; dharma and restraint are urged implicitly.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it functions as a general karmic warning within the chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive of the burden and torment produced by pāpa (sin).