Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

धनंजय उवाच । महदेतन्ममाश्चर्यं श्रोतव्यं परमं मुने । कुमारीचरितं सर्वं ब्रूहि मह्यं सविस्तरम्

Transliteration

dhanaṃjaya uvāca | mahadetanmamāścaryaṃ śrotavyaṃ paramaṃ mune | kumārīcaritaṃ sarvaṃ brūhi mahyaṃ savistaram

Translation

ധനഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ മുനേ, ഇത് എനിക്ക് മഹത്തായ അത്ഭുതവും പരമമായി ശ്രവണമർഹവും ആകുന്നു. കുമാരിയുടെ സമസ്തചരിതവും അവളുടെ കൃത്യങ്ങളും എനിക്ക് വിശദമായി പറയുക.

Word by Word

• धनंजयः: Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (एतत् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आश्चर्यम्: a wonder
• आश्चर्यम्: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोतव्यम्: to be heard
• श्रोतव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (ought to be heard)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (श्रोतव्यम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कुमारी-चरितम्: the story/deeds of Kumārī
• कुमारी-चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुमार्याः चरितम्)

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (चरितम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• स-विस्तरम्: in detail
• स-विस्तरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थक) + विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (with detail)

Speaker

Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śrī Nārada

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya) expresses wonder and requests the sage to narrate the full Kumārī-carita; hands folded, attentive posture, the sage poised to begin the detailed account.

Characters & Entities

• Dhanaṃjaya
• Kumārī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sincere desire to hear sacred history (kathā-śravaṇa) is presented as a high spiritual qualification and a doorway to dharma and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as an introductory request for the Kumārī narrative within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly—this verse emphasizes śravaṇa (devout listening) rather than a stated rite.