Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

चक्रुश्च सततं मंत्रं तद्विनाशाय केवलम् । वीक्षयंति च च्छिद्राणि न च पश्यंति दुःखिताः

Transliteration

cakruśca satataṃ maṃtraṃ tadvināśāya kevalam | vīkṣayaṃti ca cchidrāṇi na ca paśyaṃti duḥkhitāḥ

Translation

ତାହାର ବିନାଶ ପାଇଁ ସେମାନେ ନିରନ୍ତର କେବଳ ମନ୍ତ୍ରଜପ କଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଛିଦ୍ର ଖୋଜିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ଦୁର୍ବଳତା ମିଳିଲା ନାହିଁ; ଦୁଃଖିତ ହୋଇ ସେମାନେ କୌଣସି ଉପାୟ ଦେଖିପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• चक्रुः: did/made
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (and)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• मन्त्रम्: a mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तद्विनाशाय: for his destruction
• तद्विनाशाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तस्य विनाशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्; अर्थे ‘मात्रम्/एव’ (only/merely)

• वीक्षयन्ति: they look for/observe
• वीक्षयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (and)

• छिद्राणि: flaws/openings
• छिद्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वय (and)

• पश्यन्ति: they see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• दुःखिताः: distressed
• दुःखिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Naimiṣa (implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas perform a focused destructive mantra in a ritual circle, yet their faces show frustration; the ascetic sits unmoved, surrounded by a seamless aura like an unbroken shield, with no visible ‘crack’ for the mantra to enter.

Characters & Entities

• Devas (implied from prior verse)
• Mantra (as ritual act)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When discipline is unbroken, it becomes spiritually ‘sealed’; hostile intent struggles to find a ‘chidra’ against steadfast dharma-based practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative remains within the Naimiṣāraṇya frame, indirectly magnifying the place where such unassailable tapas can be performed.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Continuous mantra-prayoga (repetition/application of a mantra) is mentioned, though here it is depicted as an aggressive rite aimed at destruction.