Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

निःशंका जल्पमाना च रागवाक्यान्यनेकशः । अनर्हाणि कुमारीणां ब्रह्मजानां विशेषतः

Transliteration

niḥśaṃkā jalpamānā ca rāgavākyānyanekaśaḥ | anarhāṇi kumārīṇāṃ brahmajānāṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Sie sprach ohne Scheu und äußerte vielfach Worte der Leidenschaft—eine Rede, die sich für Jungfrauen nicht ziemt, erst recht nicht für solche, die in einem Brahmanengeschlecht geboren sind.

Word by Word

• निःशङ्का: fearless / without hesitation
• निःशङ्का: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (निःशङ्का = without doubt/fear)

• जल्पमाना: speaking
• जल्पमाना: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇa (Concomitant action/कर्ता-सहक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जल्प् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (present middle participle, शानच्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘speaking’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• रागवाक्यानि: passionate words
• रागवाक्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रागस्य वाक्यानि = passionate words)

• अनेकशः: repeatedly / in many ways
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक (adverb: many times/in many ways)

• अनर्हाणि: improper / unworthy
• अनर्हाणि: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘words’)

• कुमारीणाम्: of maidens
• कुमारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th case), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मजानाम्: of Brahmin-born (maidens)
• ब्रह्मजानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः जनाः = Brahmin-born)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Emphasis/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Narrator (evaluative description)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Haraharmya (contextual locus)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The maiden, richly adorned, speaks boldly with animated gestures; her expression is unabashed, while the sacred architecture behind her contrasts with the impropriety of her words.

Characters & Entities

• kanyakā (maiden)
• brāhmaṇa lineage (brahmajā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma emphasizes self-restraint and decorum; speech reveals inner discipline, especially for those expected to uphold sacred conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not directly; the verse focuses on conduct within the broader Śaiva-sacred setting referenced nearby.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a dharmic characterization of improper speech.