Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

चिंतयन्मनसा वीरस्तपः कर्तुं समुद्यतः । स वै तत्र तपस्तेपे शाकमूलफलाशनः

Transliteration

ciṃtayanmanasā vīrastapaḥ kartuṃ samudyataḥ | sa vai tatra tapastepe śākamūlaphalāśanaḥ

Translation

മനസ്സിൽ ഗാഢമായി ചിന്തിച്ച ആ ധീരൻ തപസ്സിന് ഒരുങ്ങി. അവിടെ ശാകം, മൂലം, ഫലം എന്നിവ ആഹാരമാക്കി തപസ്സു ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• चिन्तयन्: thinking
• चिन्तयन्: Karta (Agent in participial clause/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वीरः: the hero/brave one
• वीरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (infinitive)

• समुद्यतः: resolved/ready
• समुद्यतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + यम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

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

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

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शाकमूलफलाशनः: one who ate vegetables, roots, and fruits
• शाकमूलफलाशनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाक + मूल + फल + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (शाक-मूल-फल) इति समाहारस्य तत्पुरुषः—तद् आशनः (one who eats)

Speaker

Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solitary ascetic in a sacred grove near Ayodhyā, seated in contemplation with a simple leaf-bowl of roots and fruits; the Sarayū’s calm presence implied in the background; atmosphere of resolve and restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇuśarman
• Ayodhyā (implied by context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred place bears fruit when approached with inner resolve and disciplined living; tapas refines devotion into spiritual power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā is the implied setting where the devotee undertakes austerity, reinforcing its status as a potent kṣetra for sādhana.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An ascetic regimen is implied: undertaking tapas with a simple diet of vegetables, roots, and fruits.