Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

कार्त्तिक्यां तु विशेषेण कथितं शङ्करेण तु । तच्छृणुष्व नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वपापापनोदनम्

Transliteration

kārttikyāṃ tu viśeṣeṇa kathitaṃ śaṅkareṇa tu | tacchṛṇuṣva nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvapāpāpanodanam

Translation

கார்த்திகீ மாதத்திற்காக இதைச் சிறப்பாகத் தாமே சங்கரர் உரைத்தார்; ஆகவே அரசர்களில் சிறந்தவனே, எல்லாப் பாவங்களையும் நீக்கும் அதைக் கேள்.

Word by Word

• कार्त्तिक्याम्: in (the month of) Kārttikī
• कार्त्तिक्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Karana (Manner/प्रकार-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); प्रकारवाचक (in a special manner)

• कथितम्: was told
• कथितम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (it was said)

• शङ्करेण: by Śaṅkara
• शङ्करेण: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• तत्: that (teaching)
• तत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्

• नृपश्रेष्ठ: O best of kings
• नृपश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप-श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रेष्ठः नृपः)

• सर्वपापापनोदनम्: the remover of all sins
• सर्वपापापनोदनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-पाप-अपनोदन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानाम् अपनोदनम्)

Speaker

Śiva (Śaṅkara)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Loṭaṇeśvara (Revā Khaṇḍa observance)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A king (nṛpaśreṣṭha)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śaṅkara (as the divine teacher) is envisioned imparting instruction; a royal listener sits respectfully; behind them, the river and shrine indicate the setting, emphasizing Kārttika’s sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Kārttikī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kārttikī is presented as a uniquely powerful time for dharmic observance taught by Śiva, capable of destroying accumulated sin.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader context is Revā Khaṇḍa (Narmadā region); the immediate verse introduces Kārttikī-related instruction that culminates in local tīrtha practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A general injunction to hear and follow Śiva’s Kārttikī-specific observance; details follow in subsequent verses.