Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

यद्ब्रवीमि वचः सत्यं शृणुध्वं तन्नराधिपाः । आत्मनो वीर्यसदृशं केवलं न तु दर्पतः

Transliteration

yadbravīmi vacaḥ satyaṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ tannarādhipāḥ | ātmano vīryasadṛśaṃ kevalaṃ na tu darpataḥ

Translation

O kings, listen: the words I speak are true. I speak only what accords with my own valor, not from empty pride.

Word by Word

• yat: what (that)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• bravīmi: I speak
• bravīmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vacaḥ: words, statement
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• satyaṃ: true
• satyaṃ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (वचः इत्यस्य)

• śṛṇudhvaṃ: listen (you all)
• śṛṇudhvaṃ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (यत् ... तत् सहसम्बन्ध)

• narādhipāḥ: O kings (lords of men)
• narādhipāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), बहुवचन; समासः—नराणाम् अधिपाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ātmano: of oneself/my
• ātmano: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• vīryasadṛśaṃ: commensurate with (my) valor
• vīryasadṛśaṃ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—वीर्यस्य सदृशम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• kevalaṃ: only, merely
• kevalaṃ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: only/merely)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/however)

• darpataḥ: from pride, out of arrogance
• darpataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (from pride = out of pride)

Speaker

Warrior-speaker within the narrative (Bhīma implied); framed by Sūta’s narration

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Barbarīka addressing kings with calm firmness: one hand raised in oath-like gesture, face composed—strength without arrogance; kings listen respectfully.

Characters & Entities

• Narādhipa (kings)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in heroic contexts, dharma requires truthfulness and restraint—valor should not become boastful pride.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The immediate passage continues the Guptakṣetra-centered narrative, though this verse itself addresses conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the emphasis is ethical—satya (truth) and measured speech.