Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

ये स्तेनाः पतिताः क्लीबा ये च नास्तिकवृत्तयः । तान्हव्यकव्ययोर्विप्राननर्हान्मनुर ब्रवीत्

Transliteration

ye stenāḥ patitāḥ klībā ye ca nāstikavṛttayaḥ | tānhavyakavyayorviprānanarhānmanura bravīt

Translation

مَن كان سارقًا، ساقطًا عن السلوك القويم، أو «كليبا» بمعنى غير مؤهَّل، ومن عاش على طرائق الإلحاد—فإن مانو يصرّح بأن مثل هؤلاء البراهمة غير صالحين لا لـهَفْيَا (قرابين الآلهة) ولا لـكَفْيَا (قرابين الأسلاف).

Word by Word

• ye: who (those who)
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• stenāḥ: thieves
• stenāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• patitāḥ: fallen (outcast)
• patitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• klībāḥ: impotent/eunuchs
• klībāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: klība (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nāstika-vṛttayaḥ: those of atheistic conduct
• nāstika-vṛttayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāstika (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nāstikānāṃ vṛttayaḥ)

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• havya-kavyayoḥ: of/for the havya and kavya offerings (to gods and ancestors)
• havya-kavyayoḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havya (प्रातिपदिक) + kavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्वः (havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca)

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• anarhān: unworthy
• anarhān: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• abravīt: said/declared
• abravīt: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (citing Manu; deduced from context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim/householder audience within the Prabhāsa-māhātmya frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solemn śrāddha at Prabhāsa: a yajamāna seated on kuśa, pitṛ-tarpaṇa vessels, brāhmaṇas in a row; a dharma-śāstra figure (Manu) indicating who is unfit for havya and kavya.

Characters & Entities

• Manu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rituals require moral integrity; unethical conduct nullifies eligibility even if one bears a sacred social identity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where correct dharma for offerings is taught as part of the site’s māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Exclude thieves, the fallen, and those of nāstika conduct from havya (deva) and kavya (pitṛ) rites.