Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 175

Devanagari script

तमुवाच गुरुः शिष्यं स पुनः श्लक्ष्णया गिरा । जानाम्यहं न ते वाणी कथंचिज्जायतेऽन्यथा

Transliteration

tamuvāca guruḥ śiṣyaṃ sa punaḥ ślakṣṇayā girā | jānāmyahaṃ na te vāṇī kathaṃcijjāyate'nyathā

Translation

Then the guru addressed the disciple again in gentle speech: “I know your words never, in any way, become otherwise than true.”

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरुः: the guru
• गुरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• शिष्यम्: (his) disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (Object apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; (तम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्य (again, further)

• श्लक्ष्णया: with gentle/smooth
• श्लक्ष्णया: Karaṇa (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd); एकवचन; विशेषण (गिरा इत्यस्य)

• गिरा: speech, words
• गिरा: Karaṇa (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th); एकवचन

• वाणी: speech, utterance
• वाणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• कथंचित्: somehow
• कथंचित्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/अनिश्चितता (somehow, in any way)

• जायते: is born, arises, becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

Speaker

Guru (speaking to the disciple)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The guru speaks softly, perhaps with a slight smile; the disciple’s tension eases, posture still respectful, atmosphere of reconciliation.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A true teacher guides with gentleness and recognizes sincerity, reinforcing dharmic speech.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is mentioned in this verse; it is part of the broader tīrthamāhātmya narration.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse emphasizes teacher-disciple ethics and truthful speech.