Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

गोविन्दे सततं भक्तिस्तथा दाने प्रवर्तते । धर्मार्थकाम कार्येषु सप्रभावं मनस्तव

Transliteration

govinde satataṃ bhaktistathā dāne pravartate | dharmārthakāma kāryeṣu saprabhāvaṃ manastava

Translation

As-tu une dévotion constante envers Govinda, et de même un élan continu vers le don ? Dans les œuvres de dharma, d’artha et de kāma, que ton esprit soit pourvu d’une bonne force et d’une juste efficacité.

Word by Word

• गोविन्दे: in Govinda (Viṣṇu)
• गोविन्दे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'always')

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यतार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• दाने: in giving/charity
• दाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रवर्तते: is engaged, proceeds
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धर्मार्थकाम: dharma, wealth, and desire
• धर्मार्थकाम: Sambandha (Topic/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अर्थ + काम (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचनार्थे समाहार-प्रयोगः; त्रयाणां समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (dharma, artha, kāma)

• कार्येषु: in actions, in duties
• कार्येषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• सप्रभावम्: effective, powerful
• सप्रभावम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/सह-समासार्थः (प्रभावेन सह = endowed with power/effect) विशेषण (agreeing with 'मनः')

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Gālava (deduced from nearby verses)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage invokes Govinda’s name while advising on dāna; a subtle vision of Viṣṇu (or a small shrine) may appear behind, indicating the devotional focus.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Dharma
• Artha
• Kāma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion to Govinda and habitual charity are key signs of a dharmic life, harmonizing worldly aims under righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse praises devotional and charitable conduct within a tīrtha-context, but does not name a particular site in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna (charitable giving) is explicitly commended alongside continuous bhakti.