Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

अत्राहं कथयिष्यामि कथां श्रोतृमनोहराम् । श्रुत्वा मुक्तिं प्रयांत्येव भर्तिर्भवति शांभवी

Transliteration

atrāhaṃ kathayiṣyāmi kathāṃ śrotṛmanoharām | śrutvā muktiṃ prayāṃtyeva bhartirbhavati śāṃbhavī

Translation

Hier will ich eine Erzählung berichten, die das Herz der Zuhörer erfreut; wer sie hört, erlangt wahrlich Befreiung, und Hingabe zu Śambhu (Śiva) erwacht.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कथयिष्यामि: I will narrate
• कथयिष्यामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; √कथ् + णिच्)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• कथाम्: a story
• कथाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रोतृमनोहराम्: delightful to the listeners
• श्रोतृमनोहराम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोतृ + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रोतॄणां मनोहराम्’ (pleasing to listeners)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘श्रवणं कृत्वा’ (having heard)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: they attain/go to
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• भर्तिः: devotion/service
• भर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शांभवी: Śaiva, pertaining to Śambhu
• शांभवी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाम्भवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘शम्भोः सम्बन्धिनी’ (pertaining to Śambhu/Śiva)

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; likely the main narrator addressing a listener)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Assembly of listeners (śrotṛ-gaṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sage-narrator seated on kuśa grass addresses attentive listeners; a subtle aura of Śiva (trident, crescent moon, matted locks) appears behind, signifying Śāmbhavī bhakti arising through the spoken word.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Listening to sacred Purāṇic narratives is itself a liberating practice that awakens devotion to Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single location is specified in this verse; the emphasis is on kathā-śravaṇa (hearing the sacred story).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śravaṇa—devout hearing of the narrated kathā as a spiritual discipline leading to mokṣa and Śiva-bhakti.