Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 98

Devanagari script

वचनं तद्बुधाः प्रहुर्बंधं चित्रकथं त्विति । यच्च कामान्वितं वाक्यं पंचमं वाप्यतः श्रुणु

Transliteration

vacanaṃ tadbudhāḥ prahurbaṃdhaṃ citrakathaṃ tviti | yacca kāmānvitaṃ vākyaṃ paṃcamaṃ vāpyataḥ śruṇu

Translation

The wise call such speech a bondage—mere colorful storytelling. And now hear also the fifth kind of statement: the utterance that is driven by desire.

Word by Word

• वचनम्: speech; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• प्रहुः: have said; declare
• प्रहुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• बन्धम्: bondage; binding
• बन्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• चित्रकथम्: a fanciful tale; strange story
• चित्रकथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra-kathā (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: citra + kathā)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चित्रा कथा यस्य/चित्रकथा)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-निपात (quotative)

• यत्: which; that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

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

• कामान्वितम्: accompanied by desires; desire-laden
• कामान्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma-anvita (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: kāma + anvita)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (कामैः अन्वितम्)

• वाक्यम्: sentence; utterance
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प-निपात (or)

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

• अतः: therefore; from this
• अतः: Sambandha (Causal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थक (therefore/from this)

• शृणु: hear; listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Disciples/seekers (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene teacher-sage instructs disciples: one path shows a tongue bound by a chain labeled ‘kāma’, another shows calm speech as a clear stream; colorful scrolls symbolize ‘citra-kathā’.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Speech motivated by craving or crafted as mere spectacle can bind the mind and lead away from Dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is ethical instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is guidance on discerning and restraining speech.