Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

देयं तालत्रयं सम्यक्सर्वेषां निर्णयोद्भवे

Transliteration

deyaṃ tālatrayaṃ samyaksarveṣāṃ nirṇayodbhave

Translation

When a decision properly arises, three tālas should duly be given (or struck) for all.

Word by Word

• देयम्: to be given; should be given
• देयम्: Predicate (Vidheyaka/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त; √दा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय/भाव्य (gerundive)

• तालत्रयम्: a set of three tālas (claps/measures)
• तालत्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्रयम् तालानाम्)

• सम्यक्: properly; correctly
• सम्यक्: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (persons)
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• निर्णयोद्भवे: at the arising of a decision; when a decision arises
• निर्णयोद्भवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णय + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (निर्णयस्य उद्भवः)

Speaker

Viśvāmitra (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: assembly of brāhmaṇas and parties to the question

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the moment of decision, an officiant or elder strikes a bell/drum or claps in three measured beats; the gathered brāhmaṇas nod, and the disputants bow, accepting the outcome.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through orderly procedure; even conclusions are marked with recognized, communal signals.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The protocol belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya material of Nāgara-khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The use of tālatraya—three formal beats/claps/strikes—when establishing a final decision.