Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्ववक्त्रं द्वितीये च तिर्यग्वक्त्रं तृतीयके । तत्रोर्ध्वास्यैः सरोजैश्च विज्ञेयं ज्येष्ठपुष्करम्

Transliteration

ūrdhvavaktraṃ dvitīye ca tiryagvaktraṃ tṛtīyake | tatrordhvāsyaiḥ sarojaiśca vijñeyaṃ jyeṣṭhapuṣkaram

Translation

ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ଜଳାଶୟରେ ପଦ୍ମ ଊର୍ଧ୍ୱମୁଖ ହୁଏ, ତୃତୀୟରେ ତିର୍ୟକ୍‌ମୁଖ ହୁଏ। ସେଠାରେ ଊର୍ଧ୍ୱମୁଖ ପଦ୍ମଦ୍ୱାରା ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ପୁଷ୍କରକୁ ଚିହ୍ନିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• ūrdhva-vaktram: having an upward-facing mouth (lotus)
• ūrdhva-vaktram: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular)

• dvitīye: in the second (place/pond)
• dvitīye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tiryak-vaktram: sideways-facing-mouthed (lotus)
• tiryak-vaktram: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tiryak (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-भाव) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular)

• tṛtīyake: in the third (place/pond)
• tṛtīyake: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative Singular)

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

• ūrdhva-āsyaiḥ: with upward-faced (ones)
• ūrdhva-āsyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• sarojaiḥ: with lotuses
• sarojaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saroja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vijñeyam: is to be known/recognized
• vijñeyam: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√jñā (ज्ञा धातु) + -ya (कृत्)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय-कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Nom./Acc. Sing.)

• jyeṣṭha-puṣkaram: the Jyeṣṭha Puṣkara (the eldest Puṣkara)
• jyeṣṭha-puṣkaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular)

Speaker

Aśarīrā Vāṇī (heavenly voice; instructive description)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Jyeṣṭha Puṣkara

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim-sage stands at the second water-body, observing lotuses whose faces turn upward; the pond glows with morning light, suggesting the ‘Elder’ sanctity recognized through natural signs.

Characters & Entities

• Jyeṣṭha Puṣkara
• Lotus (saroja/padma)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred geography is mapped through discernment—pilgrims are taught to recognize the right tīrtha by specific signs.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Jyeṣṭha Puṣkara (Elder Puṣkara), distinguished among multiple Puṣkara water-bodies.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A practical instruction: identify the correct Puṣkara by observing the orientation of lotuses before undertaking rites like snāna.