Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

त्वमेव नो भक्तिकारी सहायश्चापि वर्तसे

Transliteration

tvameva no bhaktikārī sahāyaścāpi vartase

Translation

ただ汝のみが、我らに代わって信愛を示し、また我らの助け手として立っている。

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nom. sg.)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• naḥ: of us/for us
• naḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (Gen. pl.) / दत्तिवैकल्प्ये (also Dat. pl. in usage); अत्र सम्बन्धे

• bhakti-kārī: one who shows devotion
• bhakti-kārī: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nom. sg.); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (bhaktiṃ karoti iti)

• sahāyaḥ: helper/companion
• sahāyaḥ: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nom. sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्ययम् (also/even)

• vartase: you exist/you behave
• vartase: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), inferred from previous verse ('uvāca dharmarāṭ')

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The son (addressed directly)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king gestures toward the son as the family’s sole pillar of devotion; the son stands humble, hands folded; a subtle aura suggests protective support.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Haidambi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion expressed through loyal support is honored as a high dharmic virtue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse is interpersonal praise within the story.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it commends bhakti expressed as helpful companionship.