Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

समस्तेभ्यस्ततोऽदूरान्मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । संश्रयंति ततो भूपास्तपोऽर्थं जरयाऽन्विताः

Transliteration

samastebhyastato'dūrānmunayaḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ | saṃśrayaṃti tato bhūpāstapo'rthaṃ jarayā'nvitāḥ

Translation

അവയിൽ നിന്ന് ദൂരമല്ലാതെ, പ്രശംസിത വ്രതധാരികളായ മുനിമാർ വസിക്കുന്നു; അവിടെയേ രാജാക്കളും—വാർദ്ധക്യബാധിതരായി—തപസ്സിനായി ആശ്രയം തേടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• समस्तेभ्यः: from all; than all
• समस्तेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-बहुवचनम् (ablative plural; 'from all/than all')

• ततः: from there; then
• ततः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्ययम् (ablatival adverb: from there/thereupon)

• अदूरात्: from nearby; not far away
• अदूरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (neuter ablative singular; 'from not-far')

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural)

• शंसितव्रताः: of praised vows; renowned for vows
• शंसितव्रताः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित+व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः: शंसितं व्रतं येषाम् (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्); पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, मुनयः इति विशेषणम् (masculine nominative plural)

• संश्रयन्ति: take refuge; resort
• संश्रयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+श्रि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-बहुवचनम् (present; 3rd person plural)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/अपादानार्थक-अव्ययम् (then/thereupon)

• भूपाः: kings
• भूपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural)

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (neuter accusative singular)

• अर्थम्: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• जरया: with old age
• जरया: Karana (Accompaniment/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (feminine instrumental singular)

• अन्विताः: endowed; accompanied
• अन्विताः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु+इ (धातु) → अन्वित (क्त)
• Form: इ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, भूपाः इति विशेषणम् (past participle used adjectivally; masculine nominative plural)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvija-uttamāḥ

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An āśrama settlement near a tīrtha: huts under trees, sages performing agnihotra and japa; an aged king arrives with minimal retinue, laying aside royal insignia, bowing to ascetics; the tīrtha water glints nearby.

Characters & Entities

• Munis
• Bhūpas (kings)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A true kṣetra attracts both renunciants and rulers, guiding them toward tapas and inner purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The famed kṣetra (linked to Hāṭakeśvara and its tīrthas) is portrayed as a natural refuge for sages and aging kings.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas (austerity) is highlighted as the purpose for which kings and sages resort there.