Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

कथमेतन्महत्कर्म कारयामि मुधावद । पुनः किंचित्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा मे निष्कृतिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

kathametanmahatkarma kārayāmi mudhāvada | punaḥ kiṃcitpravakṣyāmi yathā me niṣkṛtirbhavet

Translation

വ്യർത്ഥമായി പറഞ്ഞ് ഈ മഹത്തായ കര്‍മ്മം ഞാൻ എങ്ങനെ ചെയ്യിപ്പിക്കാം? എനിക്ക് യഥാർത്ഥ നിഷ്കൃതിയും പരിഹാരവും ലഭിക്കേണ്ടതിന് വീണ്ടും കുറെ പറയാം.

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययम् (interrogative adverb: how)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative), नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कर्म: deed
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कारयामि: I cause (it) to be done / I get (it) done
• कारयामि: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम् (singular), परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त (causative: 'cause to be done')

• मुधा: in vain
• मुधा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: व्यर्थवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: vainly)

• वद: say/speak
• वद: Kriyā (Imperative/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम् (singular), परस्मैपदम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: again)

• किञ्चित्: something
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अनिश्चित-परिमाणवाचक (indefinite), नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will explain/say
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (simple future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम् (singular), परस्मैपदम्

• यथा: so that
• यथा: Sambandha (Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (conjunction/adverb: so that/as)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (genitive/6th), एकवचनम् (singular)

• निष्कृतिः: atonement/escape/remedy
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular)

• भवेत्: may be/might become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Subordinate verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular), परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Devaśarman

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: muni (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A penitent figure speaks earnestly, palms slightly open in explanation, while the sage listens; the atmosphere is that of counsel before prescribing a rite.

Characters & Entities

• Devaśarman
• Subhadra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma requires honest assessment and a real path of remedy, not hollow promises.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It introduces the idea of niṣkṛti (remedy/expiation), which is elaborated in subsequent verses.