Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

अहं दुष्करमप्येतत्करिष्यामि न संशयः । येन शुद्धिर्भवेन्मह्यं पुरश्चरणसेवनात्

Transliteration

ahaṃ duṣkaramapyetatkariṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ | yena śuddhirbhavenmahyaṃ puraścaraṇasevanāt

Translation

‘இது எவ்வளவு கடினமானதாயினும் நான் நிச்சயமாக செய்வேன்—நியமிக்கப்பட்ட புரஸ்சரண ஒழுக்கங்களைப் பின்பற்றி, எனக்கு தூய்மை உண்டாகும்படி.’

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थे; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा (1st case, nominative, singular)

• दुष्करम्: difficult
• दुष्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + कर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया (2nd case, accusative, singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying कर्म)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अर्थः ‘even/also’

• एतत्: this (act)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया (2nd case, accusative, singular)

• करिष्यामि: I will do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा (1st case, nominative, singular)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; तृतीया (3rd case, instrumental, singular); हेतु/साधनार्थे

• शुद्धिः: purification
• शुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा (1st case, nominative, singular)

• भवेत्: may occur / may be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मह्यम्: for me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचनम्; चतुर्थी (4th case, dative, singular)

• पुरश्चरणसेवनात्: from the practice of puraścaraṇa (ritual observance)
• पुरश्चरणसेवनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरश्चरण + सेवन (प्रातिपदिके; ‘puraścaraṇa’ + ‘sevana’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; पञ्चमी (5th case, ablative, singular); कारण/हेतौ (from/because of)

Speaker

The woman/petitioner (continuing to address Gautama Ṛṣi)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The woman speaks with firm determination, accepting even difficult austerities; the visual focus is on her upright posture after prostration—transition from shame to disciplined resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification is achieved through firm resolve and disciplined practice, even when the penance is demanding.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named here; the verse emphasizes inner readiness for the tīrtha-based path of purification described later.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Puraścaraṇa is referenced as a means of śuddhi—structured religious discipline typically involving regulated observances (often alongside mantra-japa and restraints).