Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

मुमूर्षूणां मोक्षरूपो धरासंस्थो महाद्रुमः । अस्मिन्वसंति सततं ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाः सदा

Transliteration

mumūrṣūṇāṃ mokṣarūpo dharāsaṃstho mahādrumaḥ | asminvasaṃti satataṃ brahmaviṣṇuśivāḥ sadā

Translation

Для тех, кто близок к смерти, это великое дерево, укоренённое в земле, есть сама форма освобождения (мокши). В нём непрестанно пребывают Брахма, Вишну и Шива.

Word by Word

• मुमूर्षूणाम्: of those who are about to die
• मुमूर्षूणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमूर्षु (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ + उषु-प्रत्यय, desiderative sense)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मोक्षरूपः: having the form of liberation
• मोक्षरूपः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षस्य रूपः)

• धरासंस्थः: standing on the earth
• धरासंस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धरा + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (धरायां संस्थः = situated on earth)

• महाद्रुमः: the great tree
• महाद्रुमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् द्रुमः)

• अस्मिन्: in this (tree/place)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वसन्ति: dwell/reside
• वसन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: constantly)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाः: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva
• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवश्च)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: always)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Skanda Purāṇa Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya didactic narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahādruma (Pippala/Aśvattha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A massive Aśvattha rooted firmly in earth; within its canopy appear subtle forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, indicating constant indwelling; a dying devotee is brought beneath it, receiving peace.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Śiva
• Mahādruma (sacred tree)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Reverence to the sacred tree is taught as a direct support for liberation, especially for those facing death, because it is regarded as a divine abode.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya context, the glorification centers on the sacred tree itself (especially Pippala/Aśvattha) as a living tīrtha in the described holy geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse implies devotional service (sevā/upāsanā) and veneration of the sacred tree as a mokṣa-oriented practice.