Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 4
Devanagari script
श्रुतं च पूर्वचरितं बालयोः सम्यगेतयोः । भविष्यदपि पृच्छामि मत्पुत्राचरणं मुने
Transliteration
śrutaṃ ca pūrvacaritaṃ bālayoḥ samyagetayoḥ | bhaviṣyadapi pṛcchāmi matputrācaraṇaṃ mune
Translation
I have properly heard the former deeds of these two boys. Now I ask also about what is to come—tell me, O sage, the future conduct and course of my son.
Word by Word
श्रुतम्heard
श्रुतम्:
Kriya (Predicate state)
TypeVerb
Root√śru (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as predicate ‘heard’
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक
पूर्वचरितम्former deeds/story
पूर्वचरितम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpūrva-carita (प्रातिपदिक: pūrva + carita)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पूर्वं चरितम्)
बालयोःof the two boys
बालयोः:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootbāla (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन
सम्यक्properly; fully
सम्यक्:
Sambandha (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsamyak (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly/completely)
एतयोःof these two
एतयोः:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypePronoun
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम
भविष्यत्the future (what is to come)
भविष्यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Root√bhū (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
Formकृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle used as noun) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘that which will be’ (future events)
अपिalso; even
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (also/even)
पृच्छामिI ask
पृच्छामि:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√prach (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन
मत्पुत्राचरणम्the conduct of my son
मत्पुत्राचरणम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmat-putra-ācaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक: mad + putra + ācaraṇa)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मम पुत्रस्य आचरणम्)
मुनेO sage
मुने:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन
Speaker
The King (Rājā)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: The king, having heard the boys’ past deeds, leans forward to ask the sage about the future conduct of his son—anticipation and concern blended with trust.
Characters & Entities
T
two boys (bālayau)T
the king’s sonS
sage (muni)FAQs
Dharmic leadership seeks guidance about future conduct, not merely past stories—showing responsibility and humility before wisdom.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is on inquiry into destiny and conduct.
None; it is an appeal for counsel and foresight.