Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

वेदवेदांग तत्त्वाख्यं सदसदूपमव्ययम्

Transliteration

vedavedāṃga tattvākhyaṃ sadasadūpamavyayam

Translation

Dies wird das Wahrheitsprinzip der Veden und Vedāṅgas genannt—unvergänglich, unzerstörbar, und von der Natur sowohl des Seins als auch des Nichtseins.

Word by Word

• वेदवेदाङ्ग: the Veda and the Vedāṅgas (collectively)
• वेदवेदाङ्ग: Karma/Predicate complement (Context-dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• तत्त्वाख्यम्: called/known as 'tattva' (truth/principle)
• तत्त्वाख्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √ख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• सत्: being/real
• सत्: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक; √अस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• असत्: non-being/unreal
• असत्: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + सत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• उपम: comparable/like
• उपम: Compound member
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable/unchanging
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + व्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Śiva (Deveśa) (deduced as respondent to Pārvatī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An abstract contemplative tableau: a luminous, imperishable principle behind Vedic symbols, with sat and asat depicted as complementary shadows dissolving into a single radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Vedāṅgas
• Tattva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The mantra is not merely a sound-form but a metaphysical ‘tattva’ pointing to the imperishable reality beyond dualities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is referenced in this line; it continues the doctrinal teaching within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated here; it defines the mantra’s nature and authority (Veda/Vedāṅga-tattva).