Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

अत्राहं कथयिष्यामि कथां श्रोतृमनोहराम् । श्रुत्वा मुक्तिं प्रयांत्येव भर्तिर्भवति शांभवी

Transliteration

atrāhaṃ kathayiṣyāmi kathāṃ śrotṛmanoharām | śrutvā muktiṃ prayāṃtyeva bhartirbhavati śāṃbhavī

Translation

یہاں میں ایک ایسی حکایت بیان کروں گا جو سننے والوں کے دل کو بھا جائے؛ اسے سن کر وہ یقیناً مکتی پاتے ہیں اور شَمبھو (شیو) کی بھکتی جاگ اٹھتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कथयिष्यामि: I will narrate
• कथयिष्यामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; √कथ् + णिच्)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• कथाम्: a story
• कथाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रोतृमनोहराम्: delightful to the listeners
• श्रोतृमनोहराम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोतृ + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रोतॄणां मनोहराम्’ (pleasing to listeners)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘श्रवणं कृत्वा’ (having heard)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: they attain/go to
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• भर्तिः: devotion/service
• भर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शांभवी: Śaiva, pertaining to Śambhu
• शांभवी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाम्भवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘शम्भोः सम्बन्धिनी’ (pertaining to Śambhu/Śiva)

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; likely the main narrator addressing a listener)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Assembly of listeners (śrotṛ-gaṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sage-narrator seated on kuśa grass addresses attentive listeners; a subtle aura of Śiva (trident, crescent moon, matted locks) appears behind, signifying Śāmbhavī bhakti arising through the spoken word.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Listening to sacred Purāṇic narratives is itself a liberating practice that awakens devotion to Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single location is specified in this verse; the emphasis is on kathā-śravaṇa (hearing the sacred story).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śravaṇa—devout hearing of the narrated kathā as a spiritual discipline leading to mokṣa and Śiva-bhakti.