Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

देवशर्माभिधानं तु शरणागतवत्सलम् । आहिताग्निं चतुर्वेदं स्मृतिमार्गानुयायिनम्

Transliteration

devaśarmābhidhānaṃ tu śaraṇāgatavatsalam | āhitāgniṃ caturvedaṃ smṛtimārgānuyāyinam

Translation

அவரின் பெயர் தேவசர்மா—சரணடைந்தவர்களிடம் கருணைமிகுந்தவர்; ஆஹிதாக்னி, நான்கு வேதங்களையும் அறிந்தவர், ஸ்மிருதி மார்க்கத்தைப் பின்பற்றுபவர்.

Word by Word

• देवशर्माभिधानम्: named Devaśarman
• देवशर्माभिधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवशर्मन् + अभिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवशर्मणः अभिधानम् = ‘whose name is Devaśarman’)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/contrastive particle)

• शरणागतवत्सलम्: kind to those who seek refuge
• शरणागतवत्सलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरणागत + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शरणागतानां वत्सलः = ‘affectionate to those who seek refuge’)

• आहिताग्निम्: one who has established the sacred fires
• आहिताग्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहित + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आहितोऽग्निर्येन = ‘one who has established the sacred fires’)

• चतुर्वेदम्: knower of the four Vedas
• चतुर्वेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (चत्वारो वेदाः यस्य/यः = ‘knower of the four Vedas’)

• स्मृतिमार्गानुयायिनम्: follower of the Smṛti path
• स्मृतिमार्गानुयायिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति + मार्ग + अनुयायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्मृतेः मार्गम् अनुयायिन् = ‘follower of the path of Smṛti’)

Speaker

Sūta (narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene portrait of Devaśarmā: a dignified Vedic brāhmaṇa with sacred fires and ritual implements, embodying compassion toward supplicants.

Characters & Entities

• Devaśarmā
• caturveda
• Smṛti
• āhitāgni

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred places are upheld by sacred persons—those grounded in Vedic discipline, compassion, and Smṛti-guided conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha-setting is indirect; the verse glorifies the dhārmic authority residing in the place (Devaśarmā), a common feature of tīrtha-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Āhitāgni (maintenance of established sacred fires) is referenced as an ideal discipline, though no step-by-step ritual is described.