Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 98
Devanagari script
वचनं तद्बुधाः प्रहुर्बंधं चित्रकथं त्विति । यच्च कामान्वितं वाक्यं पंचमं वाप्यतः श्रुणु
Transliteration
vacanaṃ tadbudhāḥ prahurbaṃdhaṃ citrakathaṃ tviti | yacca kāmānvitaṃ vākyaṃ paṃcamaṃ vāpyataḥ śruṇu
Translation
智者称此等言辞为系缚，不过是绚丽的故事而已。今且再听第五种语句：由欲望驱使而发的言说。
Word by Word
वचनम्speech; statement
वचनम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvacana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
बुधाःthe wise (people)
बुधाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbudha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन
प्रहुःhave said; declare
प्रहुः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra√ah (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन
बन्धम्bondage; binding
बन्धम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbandha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन
चित्रकथम्a fanciful tale; strange story
चित्रकथम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootcitra-kathā (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: citra + kathā)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चित्रा कथा यस्य/चित्रकथा)
तुbut; indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उद्धरण-निपात (quotative)
यत्which; that which
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)
कामान्वितम्accompanied by desires; desire-laden
कामान्वितम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkāma-anvita (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: kāma + anvita)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (कामैः अन्वितम्)
वाक्यम्sentence; utterance
वाक्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvākya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन
पञ्चमम्the fifth
पञ्चमम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Alternative marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्प-निपात (or)
अपिalso; even
अपि:
Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)
अतःtherefore; from this
अतः:
Sambandha (Causal/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatas (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थक (therefore/from this)
शृणुhear; listen
शृणु:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śru (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन
Speaker
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)
Skanda Dialogue
Listener: Disciples/seekers (implied)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A serene teacher-sage instructs disciples: one path shows a tongue bound by a chain labeled ‘kāma’, another shows calm speech as a clear stream; colorful scrolls symbolize ‘citra-kathā’.
FAQs
Speech motivated by craving or crafted as mere spectacle can bind the mind and lead away from Dharma.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is ethical instruction.
None; it is guidance on discerning and restraining speech.