Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 116
Devanagari script
तत्त्वं वद महाभाग कां ते यच्छामि दक्षिणाम्
Transliteration
tattvaṃ vada mahābhāga kāṃ te yacchāmi dakṣiṇām
Translation
Dis la vérité, ô illustre; quelle dakṣiṇā (offrande sacrée) dois-je te donner ?
Word by Word
तत्त्वम्the truth/essence
तत्त्वम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्
वदspeak/tell
वद:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवद् (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
महाभागO fortunate one
महाभाग:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootमहाभाग (प्रातिपदिक; महा + भाग)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्
काम्which (one)
काम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम
तेto you
ते:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formचतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative), एकवचनम्
यच्छामिI give/offer
यच्छामि:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootयम् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकारः (Present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
दक्षिणाम्fee/gift (honorarium)
दक्षिणाम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
Speaker
Narrative voice (student addressing the guru)
Skanda Dialogue
Listener: Śākalya (guru)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Close, intimate exchange: the student, earnest and humble, asks the guru to speak the truth and specify the dakṣiṇā; the guru’s face is compassionate yet discerning, poised to prescribe a transformative gift.
Characters & Entities
G
guruFAQs
Dharma is fulfilled by humility—seeking the teacher’s true wish rather than offering prideful gifts.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned in this line.
The formal offering of dakṣiṇā to the guru is explicitly referenced.