Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

सदाशिवकथासक्ता शिवनामकथोत्सुका । शिवभक्तांघ्र्यवनता शिवभक्तिरतानिशम्

Transliteration

sadāśivakathāsaktā śivanāmakathotsukā | śivabhaktāṃghryavanatā śivabhaktiratāniśam

Translation

ती सदाशिवकथेत आसक्त, शिवनामकथेस उत्सुक असे। शिवभक्तांच्या चरणांशी नतमस्तक होऊन, दिवस-रात्र शिवभक्तीतच रममाण असे।

Word by Word

• sadā-śiva-kathā-saktā: always attached to talk of Śiva
• sadā-śiva-kathā-saktā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā understood)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadā (अव्यय) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक) + sakta (कृदन्त; √sañj (सञ्ज्) / √saj (सज्), क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सदा शिवकथायां सक्ता)

• śiva-nāma-kathā-utsukā: eager for discourse on Śiva’s name
• śiva-nāma-kathā-utsukā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक) + utsuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवनामकथायाम् उत्सुका)

• śiva-bhakta-aṅghri-avanatā: bowed down at the feet of Śiva’s devotees
• śiva-bhakta-aṅghri-avanatā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + avanata (कृदन्त; √nam (नम्) with ava-, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवभक्तानाम् अङ्घ्रिषु अवनता = bowed at the feet of Śiva’s devotees)

• śiva-bhakti-ratā: devoted to devotion to Śiva
• śiva-bhakti-ratā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवभक्तौ रता)

• aniśam: unceasingly
• aniśam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aniśam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: continually)

Speaker

Narrator (context not explicit in snippet; likely a Purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotional gathering: the courtesan seated among Śaiva devotees listening to Sadāśiva-kathā; she bows at their feet; a kīrtana circle with cymbals and vīṇā; serene faces and ash markings.

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhakti is nourished by śravaṇa (hearing Śiva-kathā), nāma-smaraṇa, and humble service to devotees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse glorifies devotional practices and honoring devotees.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Hearing Śiva-kathā, delighting in Śiva’s Name, and bowing to Śiva’s devotees are presented as ongoing devotional disciplines.