Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

निःशंका जल्पमाना च रागवाक्यान्यनेकशः । अनर्हाणि कुमारीणां ब्रह्मजानां विशेषतः

Transliteration

niḥśaṃkā jalpamānā ca rāgavākyānyanekaśaḥ | anarhāṇi kumārīṇāṃ brahmajānāṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

ती निःसंकोच बोलत अनेकदा रागयुक्त वचने उच्चारीत होती—जी कुमारिकांस, विशेषतः ब्राह्मणकुळात जन्मलेल्या कन्यांस, सर्वथा अयोग्य होती।

Word by Word

• निःशङ्का: fearless / without hesitation
• निःशङ्का: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (निःशङ्का = without doubt/fear)

• जल्पमाना: speaking
• जल्पमाना: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇa (Concomitant action/कर्ता-सहक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जल्प् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (present middle participle, शानच्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘speaking’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• रागवाक्यानि: passionate words
• रागवाक्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रागस्य वाक्यानि = passionate words)

• अनेकशः: repeatedly / in many ways
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक (adverb: many times/in many ways)

• अनर्हाणि: improper / unworthy
• अनर्हाणि: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘words’)

• कुमारीणाम्: of maidens
• कुमारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th case), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मजानाम्: of Brahmin-born (maidens)
• ब्रह्मजानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः जनाः = Brahmin-born)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Emphasis/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Narrator (evaluative description)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Haraharmya (contextual locus)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The maiden, richly adorned, speaks boldly with animated gestures; her expression is unabashed, while the sacred architecture behind her contrasts with the impropriety of her words.

Characters & Entities

• kanyakā (maiden)
• brāhmaṇa lineage (brahmajā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma emphasizes self-restraint and decorum; speech reveals inner discipline, especially for those expected to uphold sacred conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not directly; the verse focuses on conduct within the broader Śaiva-sacred setting referenced nearby.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a dharmic characterization of improper speech.