Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

एकैकं वा त्रयाणां वा एकमेवं निमंत्रयेत् । ब्राह्मणान्मातृपक्षे च एष एव विधिः स्मृतः

Transliteration

ekaikaṃ vā trayāṇāṃ vā ekamevaṃ nimaṃtrayet | brāhmaṇānmātṛpakṣe ca eṣa eva vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Dia boleh menjemput seorang demi seorang, atau menjemput ketiga-tiganya bersama, atau bahkan menjemput seorang Brāhmaṇa sahaja dengan cara ini. Bagi pihak sebelah ibu (mātṛ-pakṣa) juga, tatacara inilah yang diingati sebagai peraturan.

Word by Word

• एकैकम्: each one
• एकैकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-एक (प्रातिपदिक; पुनरुक्ति-समासवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘each one (individually)’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• त्रयाणाम्: of three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन — Genitive plural; ‘of three’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• एकम्: one (single person)
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• निमन्त्रयेत्: should invite
• निमन्त्रयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘should invite’

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• मातृपक्षे: in the maternal line
• मातृपक्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ-पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Locative singular; ‘in the maternal side/lineage’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात

• विधिः: rule/procedure
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• स्मृतः: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘is remembered/declared’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya instructional discourse style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A householder consults elders/śāstra, then invites either one Brāhmaṇa or three together; a parallel scene shows offerings intended for the maternal line, indicating inclusivity.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Mātṛpakṣa (maternal line)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual sincerity and correct method matter more than display; even minimal arrangements, when done properly, uphold dharma for both paternal and maternal ancestors.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader context is tīrtha-śrāddha in Nāgarakhaṇḍa; this verse itself does not name a particular location.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Invitation may be done individually, collectively for three, or even for one Brāhmaṇa; the same method applies for the maternal line rites.