Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अन्यथा शास्त्रगर्भिण्या धिया धीरो महीयते । स्वामिवत्प्राक्कृतं कर्म विदधाति तदन्यथा

Transliteration

anyathā śāstragarbhiṇyā dhiyā dhīro mahīyate | svāmivatprākkṛtaṃ karma vidadhāti tadanyathā

Translation

Gayunman, ang marunong ay pinupuri dahil sa pagkaunawang nakaugat sa śāstra; tulad ng isang panginoon, kaya niyang ilihis ang pag-andar ng karmang nagawa na noon at ipadaan ito sa ibang landas.

Word by Word

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

• शास्त्रगर्भिण्या: by a scripture-informed
• शास्त्रगर्भिण्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra + garbhiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/षष्ठीभाव: शास्त्रं गर्भे यस्याः/यस्याः धिया = 'pregnant with scripture', i.e., scripturally informed)

• धिया: by intellect
• धिया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• धीरः: the wise/steadfast man
• धीरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• महीयते: is honored/becomes great
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; धातु: √मह् (to be honored/great)

• स्वामिवत्: like a master
• स्वामिवत्: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svāmin + vat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्धितान्त-वत् (comparative indeclinable: 'like a master')

• प्राक्कृतम्: done previously
• प्राक्कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāk + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; प्राक् (पूर्वम्) उपपद-सम्बन्ध: 'done earlier'

• कर्म: karma, deed
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• विदधाति: dispenses/arranges (brings about)
• विदधाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: √धा (to arrange/ordain/bring about) उपसर्ग: वि-

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wise pilgrim-scholar holding śāstra stands before a deity at a tīrtha; a river of karma is shown splitting into a gentler channel through the ‘gate’ of dharma, like a master redirecting a stream.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

While karma is binding, śāstra-informed wisdom and disciplined living can re-channel how past karma manifests.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it supports tīrtha-mahātmya by highlighting inner qualification (adhikāra) and right understanding.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is stated; the implied prescription is śāstra-based discernment and dharmic conduct.