Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

ततश्चान्वेषयामास श्राद्धार्हान्ब्राह्मणान्नृपः । यत्नतोऽपि न लेभे स धनाढ्या ब्राह्मणा यतः

Transliteration

tataścānveṣayāmāsa śrāddhārhānbrāhmaṇānnṛpaḥ | yatnato'pi na lebhe sa dhanāḍhyā brāhmaṇā yataḥ

Translation

ତାପରେ ରାଜା ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧାର୍ହ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କୁ ଖୋଜିଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଯତ୍ନ କରିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ କାହାକୁ ପାଇଲେ ନାହିଁ—କାରଣ ସେଠାର ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ଧନାଢ୍ୟ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थे (then)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• anveṣayāmāsa: searched for
• anveṣayāmāsa: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√iṣ/√eṣ (धातु: अन्वेष्)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative stem sense not intended here (denominative/10th class-like 'anveṣayati')

• śrāddha-arhān: fit for śrāddha
• śrāddha-arhān: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य अर्हाः = fit for śrāddha)

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yatnataḥ: with effort
• yatnataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): 'with effort/earnestly'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• lebhe: obtained, found
• lebhe: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

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

• dhanāḍhyāḥ: wealthy
• dhanāḍhyāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धनेन आढ्याः = wealthy in riches)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• yataḥ: because
• yataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (because/for)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice within Nāgarakhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king moves through affluent streets, approaching brāhmaṇa households; each is well-provisioned, with granaries and ornaments; the king’s face shows concern as he fails to find ‘śrāddhārha’ recipients.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual acts like śrāddha require proper eligibility and fitting recipients; dharmic order includes discernment, not mere performance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The city described is portrayed as exceptionally prosperous within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s tīrtha narrative; the specific place-name is not given in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Seeking śrāddha-arha (eligible) brāhmaṇas as recipients for śrāddha offerings.