Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

सप्तकल्पस्मरो विप्रा मार्कंडाख्यो महामुनिः । रोहिताश्वेन पृष्टः स हरिश्चंद्रात्मजेन च

Transliteration

saptakalpasmaro viprā mārkaṃḍākhyo mahāmuniḥ | rohitāśvena pṛṣṭaḥ sa hariścaṃdrātmajena ca

Translation

O brāhmaṇas, the great sage named Mārkaṇḍa—who remembers the events of seven kalpas—was questioned by Rohitāśva, the son of Hariścandra.

Word by Word

• सप्तकल्पस्मरः: (the sage) who remembers seven kalpas
• सप्तकल्पस्मरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—सप्तकल्पान् स्मरति इति/सप्तकल्पस्मरः (बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः)

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana/Address (Vocative sense by context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मार्कण्डाख्यः: named Mārkaṇḍa
• मार्कण्डाख्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—मार्कण्ड इति आख्या यस्य (नामधारकः)

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—महान् मुनिः

• रोहिताश्वेन: by Rohitāśva
• रोहिताश्वेन: Karana (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohitāśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• पृष्टः: was asked
• पृष्टः: Kriya (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√prach (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरिश्चन्द्रात्मजेन: by the son of Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रात्मजेन: Karana (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hariścandra (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—हरिश्चन्द्रस्य आत्मजः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely a Purāṇic narrator continuing the tīrtha-māhātmya account)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas (assembly)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Mārkaṇḍeya depicted as radiant, ageless sage with a subtle cosmic backdrop (stars/kalpa wheel motif). Rohitāśva, son of Hariścandra, approaches respectfully with attendants, offering a seat and water.

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya (Mārkaṇḍa)
• Rohitāśva
• Hariścandra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Approach realized sages for dharmic clarity; ancient wisdom is preserved through enlightened memory and transmission.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse frames a tīrtha-māhātmya discourse, but this specific śloka names the speakers rather than a particular site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it introduces the questioner and the sage who will teach remedies for sin.