Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

तत्त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग मोक्षोपायं द्विजन्मनाम्

Transliteration

tattvaṃ brūhi mahābhāga mokṣopāyaṃ dvijanmanām

Translation

Wahai yang mulia, katakanlah hakikat dengan jelas—nyatakan upaya menuju moksha bagi kaum dwija (dua kali lahir).

Word by Word

• तत्त्वम्: truth; principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• ब्रूहि: tell; speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (imperative, 2nd person, singular)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, vocative, singular)

• मोक्षोपायम्: means to liberation
• मोक्षोपायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्षोपाय (प्रातिपदिक: मोक्ष + उपाय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, accusative, singular)

• द्विजन्मनाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजन्मनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: द्वि + जन्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, genitive, plural)

Speaker

Ṛṣis (sages) addressing Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful dvija (questioner) with folded hands asks a venerable sage/narrator to reveal the true means to liberation; a pilgrimage landscape hinted in the background (trees, riverbank, shrine silhouette).

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse prioritizes tattva (true principle) over sensational attainments, urging a clear exposition of mokṣa grounded in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse functions as a transition in the chapter’s teaching; the broader setting remains the Citreśvarīpīṭha/Hāṭakeśvara kṣetra narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; it is a request for doctrinal instruction on mokṣa-upāya.