Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

अभ्यासबहुला धर्माः शास्त्रदृष्टाः सहस्रशः । सम्यक्संसेविताः कालात्सिद्धिं यच्छंति वा न वा

Transliteration

abhyāsabahulā dharmāḥ śāstradṛṣṭāḥ sahasraśaḥ | samyaksaṃsevitāḥ kālātsiddhiṃ yacchaṃti vā na vā

Translation

«إنّ في الشاسترا آلافَ الدارمات التي تكثر فيها الممارسة المتكرّرة؛ وحتى إذا أُحسن التزامها، فمع مرور الزمن قد تمنح التحقيق… وقد لا تمنحه».

Word by Word

• abhyāsa-bahulāḥ: abounding in repeated practice
• abhyāsa-bahulāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; ‘dharmāḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• dharmāḥ: dharmas/practices
• dharmāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (धर्म) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्

• śāstra-dṛṣṭāḥ: seen/attested in the scriptures
• śāstra-dṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś/दृश्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; ‘dharmāḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• sahasraśaḥ: in thousands, innumerably
• sahasraśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasra (सहस्र) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb): बहुत्व/परिमाण-वाचकः (‘by thousands’)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (सम्यक्)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb): प्रकार-वाचकः (‘properly’)

• saṃsevitāḥ: practised/served
• saṃsevitāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsevita (कृदन्त; √sev/सेव् + sam- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; ‘dharmāḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• kālāt: after time / in course of time
• kālāt: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative), एकवचनम्

• siddhim: success, attainment
• siddhim: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (सिद्धि) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्

• yacchanti: grant, bestow
• yacchanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (यम्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): विकल्पार्थकः (‘or’)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): निषेधार्थकः

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): विकल्पार्थकः (‘or’)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhagavān Rudra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sanatkumāra reflects on the countless practices taught in śāstra, heavy with repetition; the scene shows stacks of manuscripts and a long path fading into distance, contrasting with the implied ‘short path’ to be revealed.

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumāra
• Śāstra
• Dharma
• Siddhi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Not all lengthy disciplines guarantee realization; one should seek the most effective, essence-teachings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced; the theme is discerning efficacious dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it contrasts extensive, repetitive sādhanas with the desire for a more immediate means.