Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

कुतो वाऽगमनं तुभ्यं गन्तव्यं वा क्व सांप्रतम् । अत्राप्यागमने कार्यमुच्यतां मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

kuto vā'gamanaṃ tubhyaṃ gantavyaṃ vā kva sāṃpratam | atrāpyāgamane kāryamucyatāṃ munisattama

Translation

D’où es-tu venu, et où dois-tu aller à présent ? Et même ta venue ici, quel en est le dessein ? Dis-le-nous, ô le meilleur des sages.

Word by Word

• kutaḥ: from where
• kutaḥ: Sambandha (Interrogative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative adverb): कुतः (from where/why)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle): वा (or)

• āgamanam: coming
• āgamanam: Karma (Object of implied inquiry/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); प्रश्नविषयः

• tubhyam: for you / to you
• tubhyam: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी एकवचनम् (Dative, Singular); सर्वनाम

• gantavyam: to be gone to / to go
• gantavyam: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle): गन्तव्यम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle): वा (or)

• kva: where
• kva: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण-अर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative adverb): क्व (where)

• sāṃpratam: now
• sāṃpratam: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāṃprata (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): सांप्रतम् (now/at present)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण-अर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): अत्र (here)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): अपि (also/even)

• āgamane: in (your) coming
• āgamane: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• kāryam: purpose / matter to be done
• kāryam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• ucyatām: let it be stated
• ucyatām: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम् (let it be said / please tell)

• muni-sattama: O best sage
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम् (Masculine, Vocative, Singular); तत्पुरुषः: मुनीनां सत्तमः (best of sages)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇas led by Śātātapa (addressing Nārada)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pārtha; within scene, brāhmaṇas address Skanda

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A senior brāhmaṇa steps forward, palms joined, asking the sage about his origin, destination, and purpose; the assembly listens attentively.

Characters & Entities

• Śātātapa
• Nārada

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It reflects dharmic curiosity—seeking the intention and teaching behind a sage’s movements and visit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is explicitly identified in this verse; it sets up a travel-and-purpose explanation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a formal inquiry inviting instruction from the muni.