Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

कथं केन प्रकारेण हन्तव्यं त्रिपुरं मया । तमेकं नारदं मुक्त्वा नान्योपायो विधीयते

Transliteration

kathaṃ kena prakāreṇa hantavyaṃ tripuraṃ mayā | tamekaṃ nāradaṃ muktvā nānyopāyo vidhīyate

Translation

「いかにして、いかなる方法で、我はトリプラを討つべきか。あのただ一人――ナーラダ――を除いて、他の手立ては定まらぬ。」

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• केन: by what/with what
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नसर्वनाम

• प्रकारेण: by what method
• प्रकारेण: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हन्तव्यम्: to be slain / must be killed
• हन्तव्यम्: Karya (Obligation/कार्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रिपुरम्: Tripura
• त्रिपुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकम्: alone/only
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (नारदम् इति विशेष्य)

• नारदम्: Nārada
• नारदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुक्त्वा: having left aside/excepting
• मुक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अन्यः: other
• अन्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (उपायः इति विशेष्य)

• उपायः: means/expedient
• उपायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधीयते: is arranged/exists/is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Deveśa/Īśvara (Śiva) (internal deliberation presented as speech/thought)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva reflects aloud on the method to slay Tripura; the figure of Nārada is singled out as the key means—suggested entering with vīṇā, poised to advise.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied)
• Nārada
• Tripura

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even divine action unfolds through ordained instruments—sages like Nārada serve as catalysts for dharmic resolution.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse highlights Nārada’s unique role in the narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it concerns strategy and the search for an effective means.