Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

त्वमेव नो भक्तिकारी सहायश्चापि वर्तसे

Transliteration

tvameva no bhaktikārī sahāyaścāpi vartase

Translation

Toi seul accomplis la dévotion en notre nom, et tu demeures aussi notre soutien.

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nom. sg.)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• naḥ: of us/for us
• naḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (Gen. pl.) / दत्तिवैकल्प्ये (also Dat. pl. in usage); अत्र सम्बन्धे

• bhakti-kārī: one who shows devotion
• bhakti-kārī: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nom. sg.); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (bhaktiṃ karoti iti)

• sahāyaḥ: helper/companion
• sahāyaḥ: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nom. sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्ययम् (also/even)

• vartase: you exist/you behave
• vartase: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), inferred from previous verse ('uvāca dharmarāṭ')

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The son (addressed directly)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king gestures toward the son as the family’s sole pillar of devotion; the son stands humble, hands folded; a subtle aura suggests protective support.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Haidambi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion expressed through loyal support is honored as a high dharmic virtue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse is interpersonal praise within the story.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it commends bhakti expressed as helpful companionship.