Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

तस्मात्कथय चास्माकमुपायं कञ्चिदेव हि । व्रतं वा नियमं वाथ होमं वा मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

tasmātkathaya cāsmākamupāyaṃ kañcideva hi | vrataṃ vā niyamaṃ vātha homaṃ vā munisattama

Translation

„Darum verkünde uns wahrlich ein Mittel—sei es ein Vrata (heiliges Gelübde), oder ein Niyama (asketische Disziplin), oder auch ein Homa (Feueropfer), o Bester der Weisen.“

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययप्रयोगः; सर्वनाम-आधारितः; अपादानार्थे/हेतौ (ablatival sense: 'therefore/from that')

• कथय: tell; explain
• कथय: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे/imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• अस्माकम्: of us; our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• उपायम्: means; method
• उपायम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• कञ्चित्: some; any
• कञ्चित्: Visheshana (Qualifier of उपायम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्; अनिश्चितवाचकः (indefinite: 'some')

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• हि: for; indeed
• हि: Hetu (Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक/निश्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: for/indeed)

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object; option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• नियमम्: rule; restraint
• नियमम्: Karma (Object; option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• अथ: then; or else
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक-अव्ययम् (then/now)

• होमम्: fire-offering; oblation
• होमम्: Karma (Object; option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'मुनिषु सत्तमः'

Speaker

Indra (Vāsava) addressing Bṛhaspati (munisattama) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Disciples kneel before a sage, hands folded, asking for a specific remedy—vow, discipline, or fire-offering—while a small sacred fire and ritual implements are visible.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Vāsava)
• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When afflicted, one should seek a dharmic remedy—vow, disciplined observance, or worship—under the guidance of the wise.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified in this verse; it introduces the ritual framework that will connect to Viṣṇu’s sacred sphere.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (vow), Niyama (discipline), and Homa (fire-offering) are explicitly proposed as possible remedies.