Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

स्मृतीनामपि सर्वासां द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तनम् । चिंतनादेव मर्त्यानां सिद्धिर्भवति हीप्सिता

Transliteration

smṛtīnāmapi sarvāsāṃ dvādaśākṣaracintanam | ciṃtanādeva martyānāṃ siddhirbhavati hīpsitā

Translation

Même parmi toutes les Smṛti, la contemplation du Mantra aux Douze Syllabes est tenue pour suprême. Par la seule contemplation, les mortels obtiennent l’accomplissement qu’ils désirent.

Word by Word

• स्मृतीनाम्: of the Smṛtis
• स्मृतीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

• सर्वासाम्: of all
• सर्वासाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying स्मृतीनाम्)

• द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तनम्: contemplation of the twelve-syllabled (mantra)
• द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश-अक्षर-चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वादशाक्षरस्य चिन्तनम्)

• चिन्तनात्: from contemplation
• चिन्तनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• मर्त्यानाम्: of mortals
• मर्त्यानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सिद्धिः: attainment, success
• सिद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवति: arises, becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (reason/emphasis)

• ईप्सिता: desired
• ईप्सिता: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/ईप्स् भाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सिद्धिः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A quiet interior: devotee with closed eyes, mantra visualized as a luminous twelve-syllable garland around the heart-lotus; worldly distractions fade into mist, while a subtle Viṣṇu presence shines within.

Characters & Entities

• Smṛti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Inner recollection and contemplation of the mantra is presented as a direct and sufficient means to attain one’s sought-after spiritual fruition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific place is named; the verse emphasizes an inner practice within the broader sacred-travel (tīrtha) discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Cintana (contemplative remembrance) of the dvādaśākṣara-mantra is prescribed as a primary discipline.