Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

अलीकवाक्त्वमथवा संभाव्यं नारदे कथम् । ब्रह्मचारिणि वेदज्ञे सत्यलोकनिवासिनि

Transliteration

alīkavāktvamathavā saṃbhāvyaṃ nārade katham | brahmacāriṇi vedajñe satyalokanivāsini

Translation

Hỡi Nārada, làm sao có thể nghi ngờ nơi ngài lời nói dối? Ngài là bậc phạm hạnh, người thông hiểu Veda và cư ngụ tại Satyaloka.

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.