Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

यथा वृक्षेषु वल्लीषु कुसुमानि फलानि च । स्वकालं नातिवर्तंते तद्वत्कर्म पुराकृतम्

Transliteration

yathā vṛkṣeṣu vallīṣu kusumāni phalāni ca | svakālaṃ nātivartaṃte tadvatkarma purākṛtam

Translation

正如树木与藤蔓上的花与果不逾越其应时之季，往昔所作之业亦如是，只在其自有之时成熟。

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक (indeclinable; comparative/illustrative particle: 'just as')

• वृक्षेषु: among/on the trees
• वृक्षेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative); बहुवचन

• वल्लीषु: among/on the creepers
• वल्लीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vallī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative); बहुवचन

• कुसुमानि: flowers
• कुसुमानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (indeclinable; conjunction)

• स्वकालम्: their own time/season
• स्वकालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-kāla (प्रातिपदिक; sva + kāla)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'स्वस्य कालः')

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (indeclinable; negation particle)

• अतिवर्तन्ते: pass beyond/overstep
• अतिवर्तन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; धातु: √वृत् (to turn/pass) उपसर्ग: अति-

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (indeclinable; 'likewise/so')

• कर्म: deed, action (karma)
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (Time adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable; temporal adverb)

• कृतम्: done, performed
• कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (done)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sacred grove by a tīrtha: trees and creepers bearing buds, blossoms, and ripe fruits in distinct seasons, while a contemplative pilgrim reflects on time-bound karma.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Karma ripens by its own law and timing; patience and steady dharma are advised rather than anxiety or manipulation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular location is named in this verse; it supports the tīrtha narrative by explaining how merit and demerit mature.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it conveys a principle through a natural metaphor.