Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रीयमाहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम् । सांप्रतं तत्समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि नः

Transliteration

viśvāmitrīyamāhātmyaṃ śrotumicchāmahe vayam | sāṃprataṃ tatsamācakṣva paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi naḥ

Translation

We wish to hear the Māhātmya connected with Viśvāmitra. Now, please relate it to us—our curiosity is exceedingly great.

Word by Word

• viśvāmitrīya-māhātmyam: the greatness/glory of Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitrīya-māhātmyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitrīya (प्रातिपदिक) + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (viśvāmitrīyasya māhātmyam)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive); ‘to hear’

• icchāmahe: we desire
• icchāmahe: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• sāṃpratam: now, at present
• sāṃpratam: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāṃprata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• tat: that (matter)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• samācakṣva: tell/explain (to us)
• samācakṣva: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• param: great, supreme
• param: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (kautūhalam इति)

• kautūhalam: curiosity, eagerness
• kautūhalam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kautūhala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात; हेत्वर्थ/समर्थक)

• naḥ: of us, our
• naḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (enclitic); ‘our’

Speaker

Ṛṣis (Sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Viśvāmitrīya (tīrtha associated with Viśvāmitra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta (requested by dvijottamāḥ)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of attentive brāhmaṇas requests Sūta to narrate Viśvāmitra’s māhātmya; the setting suggests a sacred assembly (satra/pravacana) near a tīrtha.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Ṛṣis
• Sūta (implied addressee)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual progress is supported by earnest inquiry and attentive listening to the sacred histories of sages and holy places.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The request arises within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Tīrthamāhātmya framework, leading into Viśvāmitra-related sacred lore.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; the implied practice is śravaṇa (hearing) of māhātmya as a meritorious act.