Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

तत्त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग मोक्षोपायं द्विजन्मनाम्

Transliteration

tattvaṃ brūhi mahābhāga mokṣopāyaṃ dvijanmanām

Translation

Ô noble seigneur, dis la vérité sans détour : expose le moyen de la délivrance pour les deux-fois-nés (dvija).

Word by Word

• तत्त्वम्: truth; principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• ब्रूहि: tell; speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (imperative, 2nd person, singular)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, vocative, singular)

• मोक्षोपायम्: means to liberation
• मोक्षोपायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्षोपाय (प्रातिपदिक: मोक्ष + उपाय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, accusative, singular)

• द्विजन्मनाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजन्मनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: द्वि + जन्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, genitive, plural)

Speaker

Ṛṣis (sages) addressing Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful dvija (questioner) with folded hands asks a venerable sage/narrator to reveal the true means to liberation; a pilgrimage landscape hinted in the background (trees, riverbank, shrine silhouette).

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse prioritizes tattva (true principle) over sensational attainments, urging a clear exposition of mokṣa grounded in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse functions as a transition in the chapter’s teaching; the broader setting remains the Citreśvarīpīṭha/Hāṭakeśvara kṣetra narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; it is a request for doctrinal instruction on mokṣa-upāya.