Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

निवससि कथं चैव सर्वं मे विस्तराद्वद

Transliteration

nivasasi kathaṃ caiva sarvaṃ me vistarādvada

Translation

«Comment demeures-tu ici ? Dis-moi tout en détail.»

Word by Word

• निवससि: you live/dwell
• निवससि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय (how)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; (enclitic)

• विस्तरात्: in detail
• विस्तरात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: in detail/at length)

• वद: tell/say
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Nārada (within the narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close, intimate composition: Nārada leaning slightly forward, palm open in a gentle ‘tell me’ gesture; the boy poised to speak; forest background softened to emphasize dialogue.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seeking the full truth (vistarāt) reflects a dharmic approach—understanding context before judging or advising.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified in this verse; it functions as a narrative bridge.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it requests an explanation of the boy’s way of life.