Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

कांतासंमतमेवापि वाक्यं हि त्रिविधं विदुः । प्रभुः स्वामी यथा भृत्यमादिशत्येतदाचर

Transliteration

kāṃtāsaṃmatamevāpi vākyaṃ hi trividhaṃ viduḥ | prabhuḥ svāmī yathā bhṛtyamādiśatyetadācara

Translation

കാന്താ (പ്രിയ) സമ്മതമായ വാക്കും ഇതിൽ ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു—ഇങ്ങനെ വാക്യം ത്രിവിധമെന്ന് അറിയുന്നു. സ്വാമി ഭൃത്യനോട് ‘ഇത് ആചരിക്ക’ എന്ന് ആജ്ഞാപിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, അതാണ് പ്രഭുസമ്മത വാക്യം.

Word by Word

• kāntā-sammatam: approved by the beloved (wife)
• kāntā-sammatam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāntā (प्रातिपदिक) + sammata (प्रातिपदिक; √man (मन्) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-अव्यय (particle: also)

• vākyam: statement
• vākyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• trividham: threefold
• trividham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• viduḥ: they know
• viduḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• prabhuḥ: master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• svāmī: lord
• svāmī: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (Comparative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/रीति-अव्यय (adverb: as/just as)

• bhṛtyam: servant
• bhṛtyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ādiśati: commands, instructs
• ādiśati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: diś (दिश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-आ (आदिशति)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ācara: practice, do
• ācara: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-आ (आचर)

Speaker

Unspecified

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: a lord/master gestures a clear command to a servant; beside them, a refined beloved figure represents aesthetic approval, indicating three modes of guidance.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Words function differently by relationship—command, counsel, and affectionate persuasion—each carrying distinct dharmic force.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is social-ethical and linguistic.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it illustrates categories of instruction rather than ritual practice.