Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

येनाहं सर्वलोकस्य हितार्थं तप आददे । न स्वार्थं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ सत्येनात्मानमालभे

Transliteration

yenāhaṃ sarvalokasya hitārthaṃ tapa ādade | na svārthaṃ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha satyenātmānamālabhe

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! ഞാൻ സമസ്ത ലോകത്തിന്റെ ഹിതാർത്ഥം തപസ്സു സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നു; സ്വാർത്ഥത്തിനല്ല. സത്യത്തോടെ ഈ ലക്ഷ്യത്തിനായി എന്നെത്തന്നെ സമർപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वलोकस्य: of the whole world
• सर्वलोकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (सर्वः लोकः)

• हितार्थम्: for (its) welfare
• हितार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (हितस्य अर्थः = for welfare)

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आददे: I undertook; I took up
• आददे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• स्वार्थम्: (for) my own benefit
• स्वार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य अर्थः = one’s own benefit)

• ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ: O best of brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्मणानां श्रेष्ठः)

• सत्येन: by truth; with truthfulness
• सत्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• आत्मानम्: myself; the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आलबे: I commit/offer (myself)
• आलबे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘I touch/undertake/offer’ (context: ‘I commit/offer myself’)

Speaker

The king/ruler addressing Vasiṣṭha

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king speaks solemnly to Vasiṣṭha, hand on heart, declaring his vow of tapas for the world’s welfare; the sage listens approvingly.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tapas becomes supremely potent when performed without selfish motive and dedicated to the welfare of all beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse states the intention behind seeking the best tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas is affirmed as the practice, framed by satya (truth) and lokahita (universal welfare).