Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

मिथ्याजीवविरोधी विशसने कूटशस्त्रकृत् । अधोमुखे ह्यसद्ग्राही एकाशी पूयवाहके

Transliteration

mithyājīvavirodhī viśasane kūṭaśastrakṛt | adhomukhe hyasadgrāhī ekāśī pūyavāhake

Translation

مَن يعارضُ الرزقَ الحلال يذهب إلى «Viśasana»؛ وصانعُ السلاح المخادع يذهب إليها كذلك. تابعُ الباطل يذهب إلى «Adhomukha»؛ ومن يأكل وحده يذهب إلى «Pūyavāhaka».

Word by Word

• मिथ्याजीवविरोधी: one who opposes/harms those living by falsehood
• मिथ्याजीवविरोधी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्या + जीव + विरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (मिथ्याजीवस्य विरोधी)

• विशसने: in Viśasana (a hell)
• विशसने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; नरक-नाम/स्थाननिर्देश

• कूटशस्त्रकृत्: maker/user of deceitful weapons
• कूटशस्त्रकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूट + शस्त्र + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (कूटशस्त्रं करोति)

• अधोमुखे: in Adhomukha (a hell)
• अधोमुखे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अधो मुखं यस्मिन्/अधोमुखः) नरक-नाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle)

• असद्ग्राही: one who accepts falsehood
• असद्ग्राही: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् + ग्राही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (असत् गृह्णाति)

• एकाशी: one who eats alone
• एकाशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + आशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एकं अश्नाति/एकाशनशीलः)

• पूयवाहके: in Pūyavāhaka (pus-carrier hell)
• पूयवाहके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूय + वाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूयं वहति) नरक-नाम

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages/seekers

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Four linked vignettes: a worker blocked from earning while the oppressor is dragged toward Viśasana (a slaughter-house hell); a smith forging trick weapons; a liar hanging upside down in Adhomukha; a solitary eater forced to drink pus in Pūyavāhaka while others starve nearby—moral contrast emphasized.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma includes social righteousness—truth, non-deceit, and sharing; selfishness and harm to others’ sustenance are condemned.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; it is a moral-ethical listing of karmic results.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied: share food and uphold satya; avoid deceitful instruments and obstructing others’ livelihood.