Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

स्थापितोऽत्र शुभे क्षेत्रे येन विद्यार्थिनां कृते । समाराध्य विशेषेण चतुर्थ्यां शुक्लवासरे

Transliteration

sthāpito'tra śubhe kṣetre yena vidyārthināṃ kṛte | samārādhya viśeṣeṇa caturthyāṃ śuklavāsare

Translation

ณเขตศักดิ์สิทธิ์อันเป็นมงคลนี้ เขาได้สถาปนา(เทวรูป)ไว้เป็นพิเศษเพื่อประโยชน์แก่เหล่านักศึกษา หลังจากบูชาด้วยภักติอย่างยิ่งในวันจตุรถีแห่งปักษ์สว่าง

Word by Word

• स्थापितः: installed
• स्थापितः: Karta-bhava (Passive predicate/कर्मणि-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘established/installed’

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक) — ‘here’

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — ‘in auspicious (place)’; विशेषणम् to क्षेत्रे

• क्षेत्रे: in the holy place
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — ‘in the sacred field/place’

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन — ‘by whom/whereby’

• विद्यार्थिनाम्: of students/knowledge-seekers
• विद्यार्थिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुषः ‘विद्यायाः अर्थी’ (seeker of knowledge)

• कृते: for the sake of
• कृते: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतु/प्रयोजन) — ‘for the sake of’ (genitive-governed)

• समाराध्य: having worshipped
• समाराध्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-rādh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) — ‘having duly worshipped’

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण — ‘especially/in particular’

• चतुर्थ्याम्: on the fourth day (tithi)
• चतुर्थ्याम्: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturthī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — ‘on the fourth (lunar day)’

• शुक्लवासरे: on a bright-fortnight day
• शुक्लवासरे: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — कर्मधारयः ‘शुक्लः वासरः’ (bright fortnight day)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A consecration scene in an auspicious sacred field/temple precinct: Vararuci (or the installer) performs worship and installs a Gaṇapati image for students; lamps, kalasha, flowers, and students gathered respectfully.

Characters & Entities

• Caturthī (Gaṇeśa Caturthī context)
• Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred installations and worship performed for the welfare of learners become enduring sources of merit and blessing.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The auspicious kṣetra in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya, where Vararuci’s Gaṇapati is established.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Special worship on Caturthī in the bright fortnight, connected with establishing and honoring Gaṇapati.