Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 172

Devanagari script

करंधम उवाच । चतुर्युगव्यवस्थानं श्रोतुमिच्छमि तत्त्वतः । महतीयं विवित्सा मे सदैव परिवर्तते

Transliteration

karaṃdhama uvāca | caturyugavyavasthānaṃ śrotumicchami tattvataḥ | mahatīyaṃ vivitsā me sadaiva parivartate

Translation

କରନ୍ଧମ କହିଲେ—ଚତୁର୍ୟୁଗର ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାକୁ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱତଃ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ମୁଁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଛି। ଏହା ଜାଣିବାର ମହା ଜିଜ୍ଞାସା ମୋ ହୃଦୟରେ ସଦା ଉଦ୍ଭବ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• करंधमः: Karaṃdhama (name)
• करंधमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaṃdhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• चतुर्युगव्यवस्थानम्: the arrangement/system of the four yugas
• चतुर्युगव्यवस्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + युग + व्यवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तत्त्वतः: in truth; truly
• तत्त्वतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb) — तसिल्-अर्थे (in the sense of 'from/according to truth')

• महती: great
• महती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विवित्सा: desire to know; inquisitiveness
• विवित्सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवित्सा (प्रातिपदिक; इच्छार्थक-भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: of me; my
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Nipata (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle/निपात) — अवधारणार्थक

• परिवर्तते: keeps recurring; turns about
• परिवर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Karaṃdhama

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahākāla

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful seeker (Karaṃdhama) seated with folded hands, asking Mahākāla about the four yugas; a calm teaching setting with ascetic ambience and a subtle cosmic-time motif (wheel of time).

Characters & Entities

• Karaṃdhama

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sincere inquiry into yuga-dharma is itself a virtue; understanding time-cycles clarifies the right practice for one’s age.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse; it introduces a doctrinal teaching on yuga order.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it is a request to hear the doctrine of the four yugas.