Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

अथ भीतः सहस्राक्षस्तद्दृष्ट्वा स्वर्गदायकम् । अक्लेशेन मनुष्याणां पूरयामास पांसुभिः

Transliteration

atha bhītaḥ sahasrākṣastaddṛṣṭvā svargadāyakam | akleśena manuṣyāṇāṃ pūrayāmāsa pāṃsubhiḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ സഹസ്രാക്ഷൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) അത് സ്വർഗ്ഗദായകമെന്നു കണ്ടു ഭയപ്പെട്ടു; മനുഷ്യർക്ക് അനായാസം ലഭിക്കാതിരിക്കാനായി അത് മണലാൽ നിറച്ചു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (agreeing with सहस्राक्षः)

• सहस्राक्षः: Indra (the thousand-eyed)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः (यस्यानि सहस्रम् अक्षाणि सः); पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• तत्: that (thing/place)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (object of दृष्ट्वा)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव-कृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• स्वर्गदायकम्: granting heaven
• स्वर्गदायकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (दा-धातु; ण्वुल्)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गं ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (qualifying तत्)

• अक्लेशेन: without hardship
• अक्लेशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (instrumental/करण); एकवचन (with no trouble)

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी (genitive/सम्बन्ध); बहुवचन

• पूरयामास: filled/completed
• पूरयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूरय् (धातु; causative of पॄ)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद; periphrastic perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• पांसुभिः: with dust/soil
• पांसुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पांसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (instrumental/करण); बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (contextual narration in Tīrthamāhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gomukha

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra (Sahasrākṣa), alarmed, commands or personally causes sand to be poured to cover the heaven-giving ford; the sacred water is partially hidden beneath dunes.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Extraordinary merit is often guarded or concealed; the narrative frames spiritual attainment as requiring perseverance rather than effortless gain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gomukha-tīrtha, described as svarga-dāyaka (heaven-bestowing).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it explains an obstruction (the tīrtha being covered), implying the need to seek and uncover/approach it properly.