Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

स तं शिशुं समालोक्य नखाग्रान्मूर्द्धजावधिम् । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयन ईषद्धास्यमथाऽकरोत्

Transliteration

sa taṃ śiśuṃ samālokya nakhāgrānmūrddhajāvadhim | vismayotphullanayana īṣaddhāsyamathā'karot

Translation

ਉਸ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਬਾਲਕ ਨੂੰ ਨਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਗਰਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਸਿਰ ਦੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਤਕ ਨਿਹਾਰਿਆ। ਅਚੰਭੇ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਖਿੜ ਗਈਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਹੌਲੀ ਜਿਹੀ ਮੁਸਕਾਨ ਕੀਤੀ।

Word by Word

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

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• शिशुम्: child
• शिशुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• समालोक्य: having looked at
• समालोक्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-लोक् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्यय-क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• नखाग्रात्: from the tip of the nails
• नखाग्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नखस्य अग्रः)

• मूर्द्धजावधिम्: up to the hair on the head (hairline/crown)
• मूर्द्धजावधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्द्धज + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मूर्द्धजानाम् अवधि)

• विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनः: whose eyes were widened with wonder
• विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय + उत्फुल्ल + नयन (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विस्मयेन उत्फुल्ले नयने यस्य)

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पता-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (slightly)

• हास्यम्: a smile/laughter
• हास्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• अकरोत्: he did/made (he smiled)
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene āśrama setting: a learned brāhmaṇa carefully examines a small child from feet to head, eyes widened in wonder, then a restrained, knowing smile; the father watches attentively.

Characters & Entities

• Sāmudrika expert
• Mārkaṇḍa (Mārkaṇḍeya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious signs and enlightened discernment are portrayed as confirmations of dharmic destiny unfolding within a sanctified āśrama.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The hermitage locale (near Camatkārapura) remains the implied sacred setting; the tīrtha-mahātmya develops through the ongoing account.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it narrates an examination according to sāmudrika-śāstra, not a rite.