Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

स्मृतीनामपि सर्वासां द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तनम् । चिंतनादेव मर्त्यानां सिद्धिर्भवति हीप्सिता

Transliteration

smṛtīnāmapi sarvāsāṃ dvādaśākṣaracintanam | ciṃtanādeva martyānāṃ siddhirbhavati hīpsitā

Translation

എല്ലാ സ്മൃതികളിലും ദ്വാദശാക്ഷര മന്ത്രചിന്തനം പ്രശസ്തമാണ്. ചിന്തനം മാത്രത്താൽ തന്നെ മർത്ത്യർക്കു ഇഷ്ടസിദ്ധി ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• स्मृतीनाम्: of the Smṛtis
• स्मृतीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

• सर्वासाम्: of all
• सर्वासाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying स्मृतीनाम्)

• द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तनम्: contemplation of the twelve-syllabled (mantra)
• द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश-अक्षर-चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वादशाक्षरस्य चिन्तनम्)

• चिन्तनात्: from contemplation
• चिन्तनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• मर्त्यानाम्: of mortals
• मर्त्यानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सिद्धिः: attainment, success
• सिद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवति: arises, becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (reason/emphasis)

• ईप्सिता: desired
• ईप्सिता: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/ईप्स् भाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सिद्धिः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A quiet interior: devotee with closed eyes, mantra visualized as a luminous twelve-syllable garland around the heart-lotus; worldly distractions fade into mist, while a subtle Viṣṇu presence shines within.

Characters & Entities

• Smṛti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Inner recollection and contemplation of the mantra is presented as a direct and sufficient means to attain one’s sought-after spiritual fruition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific place is named; the verse emphasizes an inner practice within the broader sacred-travel (tīrtha) discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Cintana (contemplative remembrance) of the dvādaśākṣara-mantra is prescribed as a primary discipline.