Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

वामभ्रुवां स्वभावाच्च नारदस्य च वाक्यतः । विज्ञाताऽखिलवृत्तांतस्तथ्यं कृष्णोप्यमन्यत

Transliteration

vāmabhruvāṃ svabhāvācca nāradasya ca vākyataḥ | vijñātā'khilavṛttāṃtastathyaṃ kṛṣṇopyamanyata

Translation

Par la nature même de ces femmes aux beaux sourcils, et par les paroles de Nārada, Kṛṣṇa connut toute l’affaire et la tint pour véridique.

Word by Word

• वामभ्रुवाम्: of the fair/beautiful-browed women
• वामभ्रुवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), बहुवचन

• स्वभावात्: from (their) nature
• स्वभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/Ablative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नारदस्य: of Nārada
• नारदस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वाक्यतः: from the statement; by the words
• वाक्यतः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-प्रयोग ("-तः" = 'from/by')

• विज्ञातः: having understood; having ascertained
• विज्ञातः: Karta-visheshana (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) → विज्ञात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अखिलवृत्तान्तः: the whole account (all details)
• अखिलवृत्तान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथ्यम्: the truth
• तथ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• अमन्यत: thought; considered
• अमन्यत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (context within Kāśīkhaṇḍa; likely Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kṛṣṇa listens to Nārada; the sage’s vīṇā and ascetic radiance signify trustworthy testimony; Kṛṣṇa’s composed face shows acceptance of the true account.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truth is established through wise testimony and understanding of human tendencies; discernment (viveka) prevents error.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader frame is Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) in the Kāśī-khaṇḍa, though this verse focuses on narrative verification rather than a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a narrative transition describing Kṛṣṇa’s acceptance of the facts.