Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

तच्चित्रेण न जह्याच्च श्रुतिमार्गं सनातनम्

Transliteration

taccitreṇa na jahyācca śrutimārgaṃ sanātanam

Translation

Et à cause de tels prodiges étranges, qu’on n’abandonne pas la voie éternelle enseignée par la Śruti.

Word by Word

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instr. sg.); चित्रेण इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• चित्रेण: by the marvel/strangeness
• चित्रेण: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instr. sg.)

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

• जह्यात्: should abandon
• जह्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘should abandon’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/emphasis)

• श्रुतिमार्गम्: the path of Śruti (Vedic path)
• श्रुतिमार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रुतेः मार्गः)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc. sg.); श्रुतिमार्गम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A concluding admonition scene: the brāhmaṇa stands firm, turning slightly away from the miracle-lake, holding to the śruti-path; the atmosphere shifts from spectacle to moral clarity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Remain faithful to the śruti-grounded dharmic path; wonders and displays are not sufficient grounds to change one’s principles.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred site is referenced; the verse is a general instruction about dharma and authority.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The prescription is ethical and doctrinal: do not forsake the śruti-mārga (scriptural discipline).