Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

वेदवेदांग तत्त्वाख्यं सदसदूपमव्ययम्

Transliteration

vedavedāṃga tattvākhyaṃ sadasadūpamavyayam

Translation

On l’appelle le principe de vérité des Veda et des Vedāṅga—impérissable, immuable, et de nature à la fois d’être et de non-être.

Word by Word

• वेदवेदाङ्ग: the Veda and the Vedāṅgas (collectively)
• वेदवेदाङ्ग: Karma/Predicate complement (Context-dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• तत्त्वाख्यम्: called/known as 'tattva' (truth/principle)
• तत्त्वाख्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √ख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• सत्: being/real
• सत्: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक; √अस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• असत्: non-being/unreal
• असत्: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + सत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• उपम: comparable/like
• उपम: Compound member
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable/unchanging
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + व्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Śiva (Deveśa) (deduced as respondent to Pārvatī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An abstract contemplative tableau: a luminous, imperishable principle behind Vedic symbols, with sat and asat depicted as complementary shadows dissolving into a single radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Vedāṅgas
• Tattva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The mantra is not merely a sound-form but a metaphysical ‘tattva’ pointing to the imperishable reality beyond dualities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is referenced in this line; it continues the doctrinal teaching within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated here; it defines the mantra’s nature and authority (Veda/Vedāṅga-tattva).