Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 178

Devanagari script

तस्मात्क्षमां पुरस्कृत्य वर्तितव्यं तपस्विभिः

Transliteration

tasmātkṣamāṃ puraskṛtya vartitavyaṃ tapasvibhiḥ

Translation

是故，修行苦行者当以宽恕为先，依此而行。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative); एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• क्षमाम्: forbearance, forgiveness
• क्षमाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पुरस्कृत्य: having put foremost
• पुरस्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् + कृ (धातु) → पुरस्कृत्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having placed in front/keeping foremost)

• वर्तितव्यम्: one should behave, it should be practiced
• वर्तितव्यम्: Kriyā (Impersonal obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत् (धातु) → वर्तितव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधेय (gerundive: ‘should be conducted/one should behave’)

• तपस्विभिः: by ascetics
• तपस्विभिः: Karta (Agent in passive/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; कर्तृकरणभावे (by ascetics)

Speaker

Guru

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Disciple/pilgrim

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An ascetic at a crowded ghat is jostled by others yet remains composed, palms relaxed, eyes lowered in compassion; a subtle aura indicates inner victory.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Forgiveness is presented as the leading virtue for those pursuing tapas and spiritual life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A conduct-prescription: practice kṣamā (forbearance) as a core discipline.