Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

मखकर्मणि प्रारब्ध ऋत्विग्भिर्वेदपारगैः । जलसर्पं समादाय बटुः कश्चित्सुनर्मकृत्

Transliteration

makhakarmaṇi prārabdha ṛtvigbhirvedapāragaiḥ | jalasarpaṃ samādāya baṭuḥ kaścitsunarmakṛt

Translation

ਜਦ ਯਜ੍ਞ-ਕਰਮ ਆਰੰਭ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਵੇਦਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਾਰੰਗਤ ਰਿਤ੍ਵਿਜ਼ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ, ਤਦ ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ਰਾਰਤੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਾਰੀ ਬਟੂ ਨੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਸੱਪ ਚੁੱਕ ਲਿਆ।

Word by Word

• मखकर्मणि: in the sacrificial rite/action
• मखकर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मखस्य कर्मणि)

• प्रारब्धे: having begun / commenced
• प्रारब्धे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रारब्ध (कृदन्त; √रभ् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मखकर्मणि)

• ऋत्विग्भिः: by the priests (ṛtviks)
• ऋत्विग्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• वेदपारगैः: by those who have mastered the Vedas
• वेदपारगैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगाः)

• जलसर्पम्: a water-snake
• जलसर्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (जलः सर्पः/जलसर्पः)

• समादाय: having taken up
• समादाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• बटुः: a young brahmacārin boy
• बटुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कश्चित्: someone / a certain (one)
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम

• सुनर्मकृत्: a doer of good jest/harmless prankster
• सुनर्मकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + नर्म + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सुनर्मणः कर्ता)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta continuing)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Vedic sacrifice has just commenced: learned ṛtviks chant around the fire; a mischievous young brahmacārin stealthily lifts a water-snake from a vessel/nearby water source, foreshadowing chaos amid solemnity.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛtvij
• Veda
• Yajña
• Baṭu (brahmacārin)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even amid perfected ritual expertise, unforeseen disruptions can arise—testing steadiness, discernment, and adherence to dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader narrative continues in Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya (Nāgara-khaṇḍa).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; it describes the yajña being conducted by learned ṛtviks and introduces an anomalous act (bringing a water-snake) that sets up the ensuing episode.