Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

अत्र वक्ष्ये महापुण्यमितिहासं द्विजोत्तमाः । शृण्वतां सर्वपापघ्नं विचित्रं सुमनोहरम्

Transliteration

atra vakṣye mahāpuṇyamitihāsaṃ dvijottamāḥ | śṛṇvatāṃ sarvapāpaghnaṃ vicitraṃ sumanoharam

Translation

Hier will ich, o Beste der Zweimalgeborenen, eine höchst verdienstvolle heilige Erzählung darlegen; wer sie hört, dem tilgt sie alle Sünden—wunderbar und überaus anmutig.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• महापुण्यम्: very meritorious
• महापुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• इतिहासम्: legend/history
• इतिहासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itihāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• शृण्वताम्: of those who listen
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śru (धातु) → śṛṇvat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम्; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमानकाले (present active participle)

• सर्वपापघ्नम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापघ्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-pāpa-ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• विचित्रम्: wonderful/varied
• विचित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सुमनोहरम्: very delightful
• सुमनोहरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator of the Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (contextual Purāṇic narrator)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvijottamāḥ

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The narrator raises a hand in promise to reveal a wondrous account; listeners (dvijas) sit in orderly rows, faces bright with anticipation; a symbolic scroll unfurls with miniature scenes hinting at the coming story.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred storytelling (itihāsa within Purāṇa) is a dharmic means for purification when heard with attention and faith.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it serves as an introduction to a forthcoming narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śravaṇa: listening to the narrated sacred account as a purifier of sin.