Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

कथनं सत्यमित्युक्तं परपीडाविवर्जितम् । अनादानं परस्वानामापद्यपि कथंचन

Transliteration

kathanaṃ satyamityuktaṃ parapīḍāvivarjitam | anādānaṃ parasvānāmāpadyapi kathaṃcana

Translation

الصِّدقُ هو كلامٌ حقٌّ منزَّهٌ عن إيذاء الآخرين؛ وأمّا عدمُ السرقة (أَسْتَيْيَا) فهو ألّا يُؤخذ مالُ الغير بحالٍ من الأحوال، حتى في زمن الشدّة والبلاء.

Word by Word

• कथनम्: speaking/statement
• कथनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कथनं विशेषयति (true)

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मणि (is said)

• परपीडाविवर्जितम्: devoid of injury to others
• परपीडाविवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + पीडा + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; कथनं विशेषयति; परस्य पीडया विवर्जितम् (free from harming others)

• अनादानम्: non-taking
• अनादानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परस्वानाम्: of others' possessions
• परस्वानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे (of others' property)

• आपदि: in distress
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणे (in calamity)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अपि-अर्थे (even)

• कथंचन: in any manner
• कथंचन: Avyaya (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb); निषेध-प्रायः (in any way/at all)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in distress refuses to take unattended goods, choosing instead to ask openly; beside him a figure speaks measured words that soothe rather than wound, symbolizing satya without parapiḍā.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Speak truth in a way that does not harm others, and never appropriate another’s property—even under pressure.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches universal dharma as a foundation for yogic discipline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No external rite is prescribed; it prescribes ethical restraints (satya and asteya) as obligatory conduct.