Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

मन्येऽहं धर्मनैपुण्यं त्वयि सूत सदार्चितम् । पुण्यामृतकथावक्ता व्याससशिष्यस्त्वमेव हि

Transliteration

manye'haṃ dharmanaipuṇyaṃ tvayi sūta sadārcitam | puṇyāmṛtakathāvaktā vyāsasaśiṣyastvameva hi

Translation

I consider that mastery in Dharma is ever established in you, O Sūta. For you indeed are the teller of nectar-like sacred narratives, and you are a disciple of Vyāsa.

Word by Word

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• धर्मनैपुण्यम्: expertise in dharma
• धर्मनैपुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + नैपुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (skill in dharma)

• त्वयि: in you
• त्वयि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; अधिकरण (in you)

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Desha-Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अर्चितम्: honoured
• अर्चितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) → अर्चित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) ‘honoured/worshipped’

• पुण्यामृतकथावक्ता: speaker of holy, nectar-like tales
• पुण्यामृतकथावक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + अमृत + कथा + वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (speaker of holy nectar-like stories)

• व्याससशिष्यः: disciple of Vyāsa
• व्याससशिष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास + स + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (disciple of Vyāsa)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

Speaker

Śaunaka

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śaunaka respectfully praising Sūta in the rishi assembly; Sūta shown with calm confidence, holding a manuscript; a subtle presence of Vyāsa in the background as the lineage source.

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Sūta
• Vyāsa
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is best learned from an authorized lineage; reverence for a qualified teacher safeguards the purity of sacred tradition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly Naimiṣa through the dialogue setting; the verse primarily establishes the narrator’s authority.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual; it underscores śravaṇa (listening) from a legitimate teacher in Vyāsa’s tradition.