Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

उद्गातारं च सदसि वचनं व्याजहार सा । यथायथा प्रवर्तंते शंकवः सामसूचिताः

Transliteration

udgātāraṃ ca sadasi vacanaṃ vyājahāra sā | yathāyathā pravartaṃte śaṃkavaḥ sāmasūcitāḥ

Translation

وفي المجلس خاطبتْ المُنشدَ الطقسيَّ أُدْغاتر (Udgātṛ) بكلامٍ مُقدَّس، مُبيِّنةً كيف تُحرَّك الأوتادُ (śaṃku) في الشعيرة خطوةً فخطوة، كما تُشيرُ إليها تراتيلُ السامان (Sāman).

Word by Word

• उद्गातारम्: the udgātṛ (chanting priest)
• उद्गातारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्गातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सदसि: in the assembly
• सदसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वचनम्: a speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याजहार: spoke/uttered
• व्याजहार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: as/how)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as...so...)

• प्रवर्तन्ते: proceed/occur
• प्रवर्तन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• शंकवः: pegs/stakes (śaṅkus)
• शंकवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सामसूचिताः: indicated by the Sāman (chant)
• सामसूचिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साम + सूचित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘सूचित’; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (साम्ना सूचिताः = indicated by Sāman)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Inside the assembly, Audumbarī respectfully addresses the Udgātṛ; attendants point to ritual markers (śaṃku) arranged in order; the scene emphasizes pedagogy—gesture, explanation, and attentive listening.

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Udgātṛ
• sadas
• śaṃku
• Sāman
• Audumbarī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True devotion includes inquiry—respectful questioning about sacred procedure deepens understanding and preserves dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is embedded in the tīrtha-māhātmya sacrificial setting; it spotlights the sadas and chant-guided procedure, not a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The śaṃku markers’ progression/operation in the rite as guided by Sāman indications, discussed with the Udgātṛ.