Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 112

Devanagari script

नृत्यं गीतं च वाद्यं च अलीकमपि यश्चरेत् । तस्य तुष्येदनंतंहि गीतवाद्यफलं यतः

Transliteration

nṛtyaṃ gītaṃ ca vādyaṃ ca alīkamapi yaścaret | tasya tuṣyedanaṃtaṃhi gītavādyaphalaṃ yataḥ

Translation

Even if one performs dance, song, and instrumental music imperfectly, Ananta is pleased with that devotee—for from such offerings arise the fruits of sacred singing and music.

Word by Word

• nṛtyam: dance
• nṛtyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• gītam: song; singing
• gītam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vādyam: instrumental music; playing instruments
• vādyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• alīkam: false; insincere
• alīkam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective used adverbially)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (particle: even/also)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• caret: should perform; practices
• caret: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• tuṣyet: would be pleased
• tuṣyet: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Atmanepada, 3rd person, Singular)

• anantam: the Infinite (Śiva)
• anantam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• gītavādyaphalam: the fruit of singing and instrumental music
• gītavādyaphalam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + vādya (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gīta-vādya-yoḥ phalam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc Singular)

• yataḥ: because
• yataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; कारणार्थक (conj./adverb: because/for which reason)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A temple courtyard during worship: devotees sing and play drums/cymbals; a dancer performs before the sanctum; the deity ‘Ananta’ is evoked as the pleased, all-pervading Lord receiving the offering.

Characters & Entities

• Ananta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhakti outweighs technical perfection—devotional arts offered with sincerity delight the Infinite.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the verse emphasizes the value of devotional performance within worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer dance, singing, and instrumental music as part of worship; even imperfect performance is accepted when devotional.