Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सांप्रतं श्रोतुमिच्छामः सरहस्यं सनातनम् । अयोध्याया महापुर्या महिमानं गुणोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

sāṃprataṃ śrotumicchāmaḥ sarahasyaṃ sanātanam | ayodhyāyā mahāpuryā mahimānaṃ guṇojjvalam

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ ഞങ്ങൾ രഹസ്യസഹിതമായ സനാതനോപദേശം ശ്രവിക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു—മഹാപുരിയായ അയോധ്യയുടെ ഗുണോജ്ജ്വലമായ ദിവ്യ മഹിമയെ।

Word by Word

• सांप्रतम्: now/at present
• सांप्रतम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सांप्रतम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), ‘श्रोतुम्’

• इच्छामः: we wish
• इच्छामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• सरहस्यम्: the secret (teaching)
• सरहस्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स-रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक; स + रहस्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सरहस्यम्)

• अयोध्यायाः: of Ayodhyā
• अयोध्यायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• महापुर्याः: of the great city
• महापुर्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-पुरी (प्रातिपदिक; महा + पुरी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• महिमानम्: glory
• महिमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुणोज्ज्वलम्: bright with virtues
• गुणोज्ज्वलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक; गुण + उज्ज्वल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (महिमानम्); तत्पुरुषः (गुणैः उज्ज्वलः)

Speaker

Ṛṣis (sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis (assembly of sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of sages, seated in a forest hermitage, respectfully addressing Sūta with palms joined, requesting the secret, eternal glory of radiant Ayodhyā.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha’s greatness is not only geographic but also ethical and spiritual—its ‘glory’ is a living dharma that purifies and elevates.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā, presented as a mahāpurī whose virtues and spiritual radiance are to be revealed.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is a formal request to hear Ayodhyā’s māhātmya.