Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

एतैः स्वाध्यायसंपन्नैर्न श्रुतं वचनं तव । नोत्तरं तेन संदत्तं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

Transliteration

etaiḥ svādhyāyasaṃpannairna śrutaṃ vacanaṃ tava | nottaraṃ tena saṃdattaṃ satyametadbravīmyaham

Translation

“These men—though endowed with sacred study (svādhyāya)—did not listen to your words, nor did they offer you any reply. This I declare to be the truth.”

Word by Word

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (by these)

• स्वाध्यायसंपन्नैः: endowed with self-study (Vedic learning)
• स्वाध्यायसंपन्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय + संपन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (स्वाध्यायेन संपन्नाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; एतैः इति विशेषण (endowed with Vedic study)

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

• श्रुतम्: was heard
• श्रुतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) (क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि (was heard)

• वचनम्: word/speech
• वचनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive: your)

• न: nor/not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• उत्तरम्: reply
• उत्तरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (reply)

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (by him/thereby)

• संदत्तम्: was given
• संदत्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + दा (धातु) (क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि (was given/provided)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय (as predicate: true)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (this)

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (I say)

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

Speaker

Suśīla

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Suśīla stands with palms joined, speaking truthfully to the muni; behind him, a group of self-satisfied scholars avert their gaze, symbolizing ignored counsel.

Characters & Entities

• Suśīla
• Durvāsā
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Learning alone is insufficient; dharma requires listening, respectful response, and humility toward saints.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is named in this verse; it reinforces the moral framework expected of pilgrims and residents in tīrtha narratives.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it is a confession of fault and affirmation of truth (satya).