Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

अलीकवाक्त्वमथवा संभाव्यं नारदे कथम् । ब्रह्मचारिणि वेदज्ञे सत्यलोकनिवासिनि

Transliteration

alīkavāktvamathavā saṃbhāvyaṃ nārade katham | brahmacāriṇi vedajñe satyalokanivāsini

Translation

ఓ నారదా! నీవు బ్రహ్మచారివి, వేదజ్ఞుడివి, సత్యలోకనివాసివి; అటువంటివాడిపై అసత్యవాక్యసందేహం కూడా ఎలా కలుగగలదు?

Word by Word

• अलीकवाक्त्वम्: false speech / untruthfulness
• अलीकवाक्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलीक-वाक्-त्व (प्रातिपदिक; अलीक + वाक् + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाववाचक-त्वान्त (abstract noun)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• संभाव्यम्: possible / conceivable
• संभाव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-भू (धातु) → संभाव्य (कृदन्त, -यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be supposed/possible')

• नारदे: O Narada
• नारदे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• ब्रह्मचारिणि: O brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारिणि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; -इन् अन्त

• वेदज्ञे: O knower of the Vedas
• वेदज्ञे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + ज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• सत्यलोकनिवासिनि: O dweller in Satyaloka
• सत्यलोकनिवासिनि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यलोक-निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक; सत्यलोक + निवासिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; -इन् अन्त

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; verse addresses Nārada within the narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta Kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame) / interlocutor addressing Nārada (inner)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful speaker addresses sage Nārada, highlighting his brahmacarya and Vedic radiance, with an implied backdrop of Kāśī’s sacred ambience and the unseen presence of Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Satyaloka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma honors trustworthy spiritual authority; the words of a disciplined sage are treated as reliable guidance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not directly named in this verse; it functions within the Kāśī-māhātmya flow that ultimately exalts Viśveśa in Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse establishes credibility and truthfulness (satya) as a dharmic foundation.