Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 205

Devanagari script

सांप्रतं निश्चला भक्तिर्भवत्सेवा हि दृश्यते । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेण तुष्टो दास्यामि वो वरम्

Transliteration

sāṃprataṃ niścalā bhaktirbhavatsevā hi dṛśyate | tena puṇyaprabhāveṇa tuṣṭo dāsyāmi vo varam

Translation

ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ତୁମମାନଙ୍କର ସେବା ଓ ଅଚଳ ଭକ୍ତି ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଦେଖାଯାଉଛି। ସେହି ପୁଣ୍ୟପ୍ରଭାବରେ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ ହୋଇ ମୁଁ ତୁମମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏକ ବର ଦେବି।

Word by Word

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

• निश्चला: steady, unwavering
• निश्चला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवत्सेवा: service to you
• भवत्सेवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये-अव्यय (particle)

• दृश्यते: is seen, appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• तेन: by that/therefore
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुण्यप्रभावेण: by the power of merit
• पुण्यप्रभावेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुष्टः: pleased
• तुष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √तुष् (धातु) → तुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वक्ता/अहं)

• दास्यामि: I will give
• दास्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वः: to you (pl.)
• वः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Dative/Genitive), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

A deity or empowered sacred figure granting a boon (speaker not explicit in the snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: vo (you all) — addressed group, likely brāhmaṇas/devotees

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A revered figure (deity/saint/guardian) acknowledging devotees’ unwavering service; right hand raised in boon-giving gesture (vara-mudrā); attendants in humble posture.

Characters & Entities

• Bhakti
• Sevā
• Vara (boon)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unwavering devotion expressed as service (sevā) attracts divine pleasure and results in boon-bestowal.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions within the Dharmāraṇya/Rāmeśvara narrative arc, emphasizing devotional merit rather than naming a separate tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevā—active service (often to saints, brāhmaṇas, or deity/temple) is presented as the practical discipline.