Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

कच्चित्साधुमुखान्नित्यं शिवधर्मं सुभक्तितः । शृणोषि भक्तितो भद्रे प्रकरोषि च सादरम्

Transliteration

kaccitsādhumukhānnityaṃ śivadharmaṃ subhaktitaḥ | śṛṇoṣi bhaktito bhadre prakaroṣi ca sādaram

Translation

ഹേ ഭദ്രേ! നീ നിത്യമായി സാദുക്കളുടെ മുഖത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ശിവധർമ്മം ശുദ്ധഭക്തിയോടെ ശ്രവിക്കുമോ, ഭക്തിയോടെ അതിനെ ആദരപൂർവ്വം ആചരിക്കുമോ?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether? (I hope)
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (Discourse/प्रश्नसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• साधुमुखात्: from the mouth of the holy (ones)
• साधुमुखात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Singular); ‘from the mouth of a saint’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (Time/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• शिवधर्मम्: the dharma of Śiva
• शिवधर्मम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); ‘Śiva’s dharma’

• सुभक्तितः: with great devotion
• सुभक्तितः: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from/with good devotion’

• शृणोषि: you hear/listen
• शृणोषि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present Indicative, 2nd person singular)

• भक्तितः: devoutly
• भक्तितः: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘devoutly’

• भद्रे: O auspicious lady
• भद्रे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Feminine, Vocative, Singular)

• प्रकरोषि: you practice/perform
• प्रकरोषि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present Indicative, 2nd person singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सादरम्: respectfully
• सादरम्: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) ‘with respect’

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic voice within Nāgara-khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of sādhus expounds Śiva-dharma; the listener sits respectfully with folded hands; behind them a Śiva-liṅga shrine with lamps and bilva leaves; the scene emphasizes listening and practice.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Sādhu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Satsaṅga (holy company) and śravaṇa (devotional listening) should mature into actual practice of Śiva-dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named in this verse; it emphasizes the means (satsaṅga and dharma) that make tīrtha-sevā fruitful.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Regular śravaṇa of dharma from sādhus and its respectful observance are prescribed.