Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

भीतो भव ब्रह्मकुले न पापे गुरुशासने । ज्ञातिबंधुषु विप्रेषु भार्यासु तनयेषु च

Transliteration

bhīto bhava brahmakule na pāpe guruśāsane | jñātibaṃdhuṣu vipreṣu bhāryāsu tanayeṣu ca

Translation

كنْ حذِرًا في شأن سلالةِ البراهمة؛ ولا تستخفَّ بالإثم؛ وخَفْ تأديبَ الغورو. وكنْ متيقّظًا أيضًا مع الأقارب والأصدقاء، ومع البراهمة، ومع الزوجات، ومع الأبناء.

Word by Word

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह्मकुले: in a Brahmin family/lineage
• ब्रह्मकुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (ब्रह्मणः कुलम्)

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

• पापे: in sin/evil
• पापे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• गुरुशासने: in the teacher's discipline/command
• गुरुशासने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (गुरोः शासनम्)

• ज्ञातिबन्धुषु: among relatives and kinsmen
• ज्ञातिबन्धुषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (relatives and friends/kinsmen)

• विप्रेषु: among Brahmins
• विप्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• भार्यासु: among wives
• भार्यासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• तनयेषु: among sons/children
• तनयेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa; likely a preceptor figure)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A householder-seeker stands at a crossroads: on one side a guru with staff and scripture; on another, temptations and familiar faces; above, a symbolic scale weighing pāpa and dharma.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Treat dharma with seriousness: never be careless about sin, honor the guru’s discipline, and act responsibly within family and society.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred site is mentioned; the focus is social and ethical dharma rather than sthala-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it emphasizes obedience to the guru’s śāsana and careful conduct in key relationships.