Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 92

Devanagari script

निष्कामो वा नरो यस्तु श्राद्धं दानमथापि वा । प्रकरिष्यति मोक्षं स समवाप्स्यत्यसंशयम्

Transliteration

niṣkāmo vā naro yastu śrāddhaṃ dānamathāpi vā | prakariṣyati mokṣaṃ sa samavāpsyatyasaṃśayam

Translation

କିମ୍ବା ଯେ ନର ନିଷ୍କାମ ହୋଇ ଏଠାରେ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ କିମ୍ବା ଦାନ କରିବ, ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ମୋକ୍ଷ ଲଭିବ—ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• निष्कामः: desireless
• निष्कामः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—नञ्/निषेध-तत्पुरुष (कामो न यस्य/कामरहितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Nipata (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• प्रकरिष्यति: will perform
• प्रकरिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• समवाप्स्यति: will surely attain
• समवाप्स्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• असंशयम्: without doubt
• असंशयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: without doubt)

Speaker

Indra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Āśrama-tīrtha (name not specified)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm, inward-turned pilgrim offers charity and performs śrāddha with serene detachment; the setting is simple—sacred water, a small altar, and quiet brāhmaṇas—emphasizing inner renunciation.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Mokṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Desireless performance of dharmic rites (niṣkāma karma) at a holy place is said to lead to mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The same āśrama-tīrtha in Nāgara Khaṇḍa where Śrāddha and dāna are declared mokṣa-bestowing when done without desire.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform Śrāddha or dāna with niṣkāma (desireless) attitude to obtain liberation.