Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

एवं तत्र धृता शक्तिस्तेन स्कन्देन धीमता । रक्तशृंगस्य रक्षार्थं तत्पुरस्य विशेषतः

Transliteration

evaṃ tatra dhṛtā śaktistena skandena dhīmatā | raktaśṛṃgasya rakṣārthaṃ tatpurasya viśeṣataḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ധീമാനായ സ്കന്ദൻ അവിടെ ആ ശക്തിയെ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു—രക്തശൃംഗന്റെ രക്ഷയ്ക്കും, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ആ നഗരത്തിന്റെ പരിരക്ഷയ്ക്കുമായി.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• धृता: was held/placed
• धृता: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रियाविशेष)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शक्तिः: the spear (Śakti)
• शक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्कन्देन: by Skanda
• स्कन्देन: Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• धीमता: wise/intelligent
• धीमता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्कन्दस्य)

• रक्तशृंगस्य: of (the one called) Red-horn
• रक्तशृंगस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शृंग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (रक्तं शृंगं यस्य)

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose); समासः—तत्पुरुष (रक्षायै अर्थः)

• तत्पुरस्य: of that city
• तत्पुरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य पुरम्)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘-तः’; विशेषणार्थक क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Raktaśṛṅga (as referenced)

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Skanda, radiant and wise, establishes a spear/Śakti at the sacred precinct; behind him rises a fortified city and the landmark Raktaśṛṅga (a ‘red-peaked’ hill or emblematic height), symbolizing protection.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Śakti
• Raktaśṛṅga
• Skandapura/Camatkārapura (that city)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha is portrayed as divinely protected; the deity’s power is installed to guard both the land and its sacred community.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Śakti-sthāna within Skandapura/Camatkārapura, established as a protective sacred installation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it explains the purpose of the Śakti’s installation—protection of Raktaśṛṅga and the city.