Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

नर्मणापि मया प्रोक्तं कदाचिन्नानृतं वचः

Transliteration

narmaṇāpi mayā proktaṃ kadācinnānṛtaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

Ni siquiera en broma he pronunciado jamás, en tiempo alguno, una palabra falsa.

Word by Word

• नर्मणा: by jest / in play
• नर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with jest)

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (even/also)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by me)

• प्रोक्तम्: spoken / said
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle ‘spoken/said’

• कदाचित्: ever / at any time
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

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

• अनृतम्: untruth / falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (untruth/falsehood)

• वचः: speech / word
• वचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (speech/word)

Speaker

Prasthātṛ (the sage)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solemn speaker, hands in añjali, declares unwavering truthfulness; a subtle aura of dharma surrounds him, suggesting a vow kept across time.

Characters & Entities

• Prasthātṛ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truthfulness is absolute for a sage; integrity of speech sustains spiritual power and the reliability of dharmic order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse; it emphasizes satya as a core Purāṇic virtue.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; the verse asserts the unwavering truth of the speaker’s words.