Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

नर्मणापि मया प्रोक्तं कदाचिन्नानृतं वचः

Transliteration

narmaṇāpi mayā proktaṃ kadācinnānṛtaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

నేను పరిహాసంలోనైనా ఎప్పుడూ అసత్య వాక్యాన్ని పలకలేదు।

Word by Word

• नर्मणा: by jest / in play
• नर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with jest)

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (even/also)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by me)

• प्रोक्तम्: spoken / said
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle ‘spoken/said’

• कदाचित्: ever / at any time
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अनृतम्: untruth / falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (untruth/falsehood)

• वचः: speech / word
• वचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (speech/word)

Speaker

Prasthātṛ (the sage)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solemn speaker, hands in añjali, declares unwavering truthfulness; a subtle aura of dharma surrounds him, suggesting a vow kept across time.

Characters & Entities

• Prasthātṛ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truthfulness is absolute for a sage; integrity of speech sustains spiritual power and the reliability of dharmic order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse; it emphasizes satya as a core Purāṇic virtue.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; the verse asserts the unwavering truth of the speaker’s words.