Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

सदाशिवकथासक्ता शिवनामकथोत्सुका । शिवभक्तांघ्र्यवनता शिवभक्तिरतानिशम्

Transliteration

sadāśivakathāsaktā śivanāmakathotsukā | śivabhaktāṃghryavanatā śivabhaktiratāniśam

Translation

وہ سداشیو کی کتھا میں ڈوبی رہتی، شِو نام کی حکایات سننے کی مشتاق؛ شِو بھکتوں کے قدموں میں جھک کر پرنام کرتی، اور دن رات شِو بھکتی میں ہی سرشار رہتی تھی۔

Word by Word

• sadā-śiva-kathā-saktā: always attached to talk of Śiva
• sadā-śiva-kathā-saktā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of veśyā understood)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadā (अव्यय) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक) + sakta (कृदन्त; √sañj (सञ्ज्) / √saj (सज्), क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सदा शिवकथायां सक्ता)

• śiva-nāma-kathā-utsukā: eager for discourse on Śiva’s name
• śiva-nāma-kathā-utsukā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक) + utsuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवनामकथायाम् उत्सुका)

• śiva-bhakta-aṅghri-avanatā: bowed down at the feet of Śiva’s devotees
• śiva-bhakta-aṅghri-avanatā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + avanata (कृदन्त; √nam (नम्) with ava-, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवभक्तानाम् अङ्घ्रिषु अवनता = bowed at the feet of Śiva’s devotees)

• śiva-bhakti-ratā: devoted to devotion to Śiva
• śiva-bhakti-ratā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवभक्तौ रता)

• aniśam: unceasingly
• aniśam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aniśam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: continually)

Speaker

Narrator (context not explicit in snippet; likely a Purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotional gathering: the courtesan seated among Śaiva devotees listening to Sadāśiva-kathā; she bows at their feet; a kīrtana circle with cymbals and vīṇā; serene faces and ash markings.

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhakti is nourished by śravaṇa (hearing Śiva-kathā), nāma-smaraṇa, and humble service to devotees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse glorifies devotional practices and honoring devotees.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Hearing Śiva-kathā, delighting in Śiva’s Name, and bowing to Śiva’s devotees are presented as ongoing devotional disciplines.