Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

करानगृह्णता तेन लोकान्रंजयता सदा । अन्येषां भूमिपालानां विशेषेण महात्मनाम्

Transliteration

karānagṛhṇatā tena lokānraṃjayatā sadā | anyeṣāṃ bhūmipālānāṃ viśeṣeṇa mahātmanām

Translation

നികുതി വാങ്ങാതെയും എപ്പോഴും ജനങ്ങളെ സന്തോഷിപ്പിച്ചും നിന്ന അവൻ, മറ്റു ഭൂപാലർക്കും—വിശേഷിച്ച് മഹാത്മ രാജാക്കന്മാർക്കും—ആദർശമായി മാറി.

Word by Word

• करान्: taxes; levies
• करान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• अगृह्णता: (he) took/collected
• अगृह्णता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; नकार-आगम (अगृह्णत = he took)

• तेन: by that; thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• लोकान्: people; worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• रंजयता: by pleasing/delighting
• रंजयता: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (agentive: ‘by/with one who pleases’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अन्येषाम्: of other
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• भूमिपालानाम्: of kings; of rulers
• भूमिपालानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूमेः पालः = king)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे प्रयोगः (in the sense of ‘especially’)

• महात्मनाम्: of great-souled (ones)
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

Speaker

Narrative voice within Tīrthamāhātmya (speaker not explicitly marked in this verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A benevolent king in court, hands open in generosity, refusing tax-collection; citizens appear content; the atmosphere suggests dharmic rule preceding a sacred quest.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest kingship is measured by non-exploitation and the happiness of subjects, inspiring other rulers toward dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is identified in this verse; it praises an exemplary mode of rule within the chapter’s lead-up.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is praise of governance as a dharmic ideal.