Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

साधुमाधु महाभागे सत्यमेतत्त्वयोदितम् । जानतापि मया पृष्टा भवतीं वरवर्णिनि

Transliteration

sādhumādhu mahābhāge satyametattvayoditam | jānatāpi mayā pṛṣṭā bhavatīṃ varavarṇini

Translation

善きかな、善きかな、幸い大いなる者よ――汝の語りしことはまことなり。われ既に知れども、なお汝に問うた、麗しき肌の淑女よ。

Word by Word

• साधु: well done
• साधु: Sambandha (Exclamation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/सुबन्तवत्)
• Form: प्रशंसावाचक-अव्यय (interjection: well done)

• माधु: O Mādhū (sweet one / Mādhava-related epithet)
• माधु: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; मधु-सम्बन्धि नाम/विशेषणरूप सम्बोधन

• महाभागे: O greatly fortunate lady
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्याः)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Agent/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• उदितम्: spoken/said
• उदितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-वद्/वद् (धातु) → उदित (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उक्तम् इत्यर्थे

• जानता: by me (who was) knowing
• जानता: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → जानत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; मया इत्यस्य विशेषण (by me, knowing)

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद/अन्वर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• पृष्टा: asked
• पृष्टा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) → पृष्ट (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भवतीम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (asked)

• भवतीम्: you (honorific)
• भवतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• वरवर्णिनि: O fair-complexioned lady
• वरवर्णिनि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरः वर्णः यस्याः)

Speaker

Viṣṇu (implied, speaking to Mahālakṣmī)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahālakṣmī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu, still in affectionate proximity to Lakṣmī, praises her: ‘Well done; it is true.’ He notes he asked despite knowing, to bring forth her statement.

Characters & Entities

• Mahālakṣmī
• Viṣṇu (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truth is affirmed as intrinsically luminous; even the omniscient Lord highlights it to teach and bless.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; the verse emphasizes truthful narration and divine approval.