Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । तस्मादेषा महाराज शिवरात्रिर्विपश्चिता । कर्तव्या पुरुषेणात्र लोकद्वयमभीप्सुना

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | tasmādeṣā mahārāja śivarātrirvipaścitā | kartavyā puruṣeṇātra lokadvayamabhīpsunā

Translation

சூதர் கூறினார்—ஆகையால், மஹாராஜா, இவ்விவேகமிக்க சிவராத்திரி விரதத்தை இவ்வுலகமும் மறுவுலகமும் நலம்பெற விரும்பும் மனிதன் நிச்சயமாக அனுஷ்டிக்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• eṣā: this (she/this one)
• eṣā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahā-rāja: O great king
• mahā-rāja: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great king)

• śivarātriḥ: Śivarātri
• śivarātriḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivarātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vipaścitā: wise
• vipaścitā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipaścit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (wise/learned)

• kartavyā: should be performed/observed
• kartavyā: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (तव्य प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be done/should be observed)

• puruṣeṇa: by a man
• puruṣeṇa: Karana (Agent-in-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'here/in this matter')

• loka-dvayam: the two worlds
• loka-dvayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + dvi (संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (two worlds)

• abhīpsunā: by one desiring
• abhīpsunā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√āp/√īps (ईप्स् धातु; desiderative stem īpsu)
• Form: इच्छार्थक-कृदन्त (desiderative/agent noun īpsu), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'अभीप्सु' = desiring

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śivarātri (as vrata within the Nāgara-khaṇḍa tirtha discourse)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahārāja (Ānarta, as the named interlocutor in the next verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sūta addressing a kingly listener in an assembly, gesturing in instruction; behind them a night-time Śiva shrine suggests Śivarātri vigil and the promise of ‘both worlds’.

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Śivarātri

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śivarātri is recommended as a wise, comprehensive observance that supports both worldly well-being and spiritual progress.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

The discourse continues within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya framework of Nāgara Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A direct injunction: Śivarātri should be performed/observed by one seeking benefit in both worlds.