Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

गतुकामं शिवं दृष्ट्वा स्कंदो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

Transliteration

gatukāmaṃ śivaṃ dṛṣṭvā skaṃdo vākyamathābravīt

Translation

புறப்படத் தயாரான சிவனை கண்ட ஸ்கந்தன் அப்போது இவ்வாறு கூறினான்.

Word by Word

• गन्तुकामम्: desirous to go
• गन्तुकामम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्तु (गम्-धातोः तुमुन्) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तुं कामं (desirous to go)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• स्कन्दः: Skanda
• स्कन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Vyāsa (narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Skanda sees Śiva prepared to leave and begins to speak—an intimate moment of inquiry before action.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Skanda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Attentiveness to the Lord’s movement and timely inquiry are part of disciplined devotion and service.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.