Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

ततस्तं प्राह खे वाणी श्लोकमेकं नृप श्रृणु । द्विहेतु षडधिष्ठानं षडंगं च द्विपाकयुक्

Transliteration

tatastaṃ prāha khe vāṇī ślokamekaṃ nṛpa śrṛṇu | dvihetu ṣaḍadhiṣṭhānaṃ ṣaḍaṃgaṃ ca dvipākayuk

Translation

Alors une voix dans le ciel s’adressa à lui : « Ô roi, écoute ce seul śloka : le dāna a deux causes, six fondements, six membres, et il est lié à une fruition double. »

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (thereupon)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राह: said/spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्काल), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• खे: in the sky
• खे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the sky)

• वाणी: a voice
• वाणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्लोकम्: a verse
• श्लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (श्लोकम्)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विहेतु: having two causes
• द्विहेतु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वौ हेतू यस्य)

• षडधिष्ठानम्: having six bases
• षडधिष्ठानम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + अधिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड् अधिष्ठानानि यस्य)

• षडङ्गम्: six-limbed/with six parts
• षडङ्गम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड् अङ्गानि यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• द्विपाकयुक्: endowed with two results/ripening
• द्विपाकयुक्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + पाक + युज् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: युक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (द्वौ पाकौ यस्य) + कृदन्तः युक्त (युज्-धातोः क्त)

Speaker

Khe-vāṇī (celestial voice)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nārada

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A luminous disembodied voice descends from the sky as the king looks upward in reverence; sages and ministers witness the miracle; the sky is rendered with radiance and subtle divine symbols.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmavarman (implied king)
• Khe-vāṇī (voice in the sky)
• Dāna (charity)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity is a structured dharmic discipline with defined motivations, supports, components, and karmic outcomes.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching is delivered within the sacred setting associated with the land–ocean confluence, though the verse itself emphasizes doctrine rather than place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A doctrinal framework for dāna is introduced (two causes, six bases, six limbs, two fruits), preparing for correct practice.