Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि

Transliteration

evaṃ jñātvā mahārāja nānyathā kartumarhasi

Translation

L’ayant su ainsi, ô grand roi, tu ne dois pas agir autrement.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: otherwise)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Kriya-artha (Infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), कर्मार्थक/उद्देश्य (purpose/complement)

• अर्हसि: you ought / are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (contextual continuation)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka-group (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage gives a final, firm yet compassionate directive; the king bows deeper, signaling acceptance and resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Rohitāśva (implied)
• Mahārāja (epithet)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

After discerning dharma, one must align action with that knowledge; knowing and doing must not be separated.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No new ritual is stated; it is an injunction to follow the dharmic principles just explained.