Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

तस्मात्कथय चास्माकमुपायं कञ्चिदेव हि । व्रतं वा नियमं वाथ होमं वा मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

tasmātkathaya cāsmākamupāyaṃ kañcideva hi | vrataṃ vā niyamaṃ vātha homaṃ vā munisattama

Translation

“Maka, khabarkanlah kepada kami suatu upaya—sama ada vrata (nazar suci), atau niyama (disiplin), ataupun homa (persembahan api), wahai yang terbaik antara para muni.”

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययप्रयोगः; सर्वनाम-आधारितः; अपादानार्थे/हेतौ (ablatival sense: 'therefore/from that')

• कथय: tell; explain
• कथय: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे/imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• अस्माकम्: of us; our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• उपायम्: means; method
• उपायम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• कञ्चित्: some; any
• कञ्चित्: Visheshana (Qualifier of उपायम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्; अनिश्चितवाचकः (indefinite: 'some')

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• हि: for; indeed
• हि: Hetu (Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक/निश्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: for/indeed)

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object; option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• नियमम्: rule; restraint
• नियमम्: Karma (Object; option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• अथ: then; or else
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक-अव्ययम् (then/now)

• होमम्: fire-offering; oblation
• होमम्: Karma (Object; option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'मुनिषु सत्तमः'

Speaker

Indra (Vāsava) addressing Bṛhaspati (munisattama) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Disciples kneel before a sage, hands folded, asking for a specific remedy—vow, discipline, or fire-offering—while a small sacred fire and ritual implements are visible.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Vāsava)
• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When afflicted, one should seek a dharmic remedy—vow, disciplined observance, or worship—under the guidance of the wise.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified in this verse; it introduces the ritual framework that will connect to Viṣṇu’s sacred sphere.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (vow), Niyama (discipline), and Homa (fire-offering) are explicitly proposed as possible remedies.