Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

राजसं गुणमाश्रित्य भूतसर्गमकल्मषम् । मनसा मानसी सृष्टिः प्रथमं चिंतिता मया

Transliteration

rājasaṃ guṇamāśritya bhūtasargamakalmaṣam | manasā mānasī sṛṣṭiḥ prathamaṃ ciṃtitā mayā

Translation

راجس گُن کا سہارا لے کر میں نے بےداغ اور پاکیزہ بھوت سَرگ کی تخلیق کا ارادہ کیا؛ سب سے پہلے میں نے ذہنی، من سے جنمی ہوئی سृष्टی کا تصور کیا۔

Word by Word

• राजसम्: rajasic
• राजसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गुणविशेषण

• गुणम्: quality, guṇa
• गुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Gerundial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√श्रि (धातु; श्रि)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having resorted to)

• भूतसर्गम्: creation of beings
• भूतसर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत-सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक; भूत + सर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अकल्मषम्: stainless, sinless
• अकल्मषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negating)

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मानसी: mental
• मानसी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सृष्टिः इति विशेषण

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (firstly)

• चिन्तिता: was conceived/thought
• चिन्तिता: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, कर्मणि/भावे (thought/considered)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥/Agent (by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An abstract cosmological tableau: rajas depicted as a dynamic reddish-golden current initiating forms; from the creator’s mind emanate subtle beings (mānasī sṛṣṭi) as thought-forms, yet surrounded by a clean, luminous aura indicating akalmaṣa purity.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Guṇas (Rajas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even cosmic activity operates through guṇas; disciplined intention (mind) is presented as the first blueprint for ordered creation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it provides doctrinal context within the tīrtha-focused section.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse describes inner contemplation as the first stage of creation.