Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

एवं पुनःपुनस्तत्र कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणाम् । द्वारदेशे समासीनं निजघ्नुर्निशितैः शरैः

Transliteration

evaṃ punaḥpunastatra kṛtvā kṛtvā pradakṣiṇām | dvāradeśe samāsīnaṃ nijaghnurniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Translation

ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਉੱਥੇ ਵਾਰੰਵਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਦਕਸ਼ਿਣਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਹਿਆ; ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਬੈਠ ਗਿਆ, ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਤਿੱਖੇ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਿਆ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• पुनःपुनः: again and again
• पुनःपुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्त्यर्थक (repetitive adverb)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• कृत्वा: having done (repeatedly)
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• प्रदक्षिणाम्: circumambulation
• प्रदक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• द्वारदेशे: at the doorway area
• द्वारदेशे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (locative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dvārasya deśe)

• समासीनम्: seated
• समासीनम्: Karma (Object person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ√सद्/√आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular); कर्मणि/भावे—‘seated’

• निजघ्नुः: they struck/killed
• निजघ्नुः: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

Speaker

Rājā (narrating to the Queen)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Near the temple doorway, the figure sits exhausted after many circumambulations; from the side, archers release sharp arrows; the temple lamps and doorway frame the tragic moment.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva-mandira (implied)
• dvāra (temple doorway)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Repeated contact with sacred space does not automatically purify if one remains bound to lower impulses; actions still bear consequences.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative centers on a Śiva temple entrance; the tīrtha is not named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pradakṣiṇā of the shrine is referenced as the repeated act.