Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

प्रधर्षयितुमारब्धः स्त्रियः परपरिग्रहाः । आयुषस्तपसः कीर्तेस्तेजसो यशसः श्रियः

Transliteration

pradharṣayitumārabdhaḥ striyaḥ paraparigrahāḥ | āyuṣastapasaḥ kīrtestejaso yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ

Translation

আমি পরস্ত্রীদের উপর অত্যাচার করতে আরম্ভ করলাম; ফলে আয়ু, তপস্যা, কীর্তি, তেজ, যশ ও শ্রী—সবই ক্ষয় হতে লাগল।

Word by Word

• प्रधर्षयितुम्: to violate/assault
• प्रधर्षयितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√धृष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजनार्थक अव्ययप्रयोगः (to violate/assault)

• आरब्धः: having begun
• आरब्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√रभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (having begun/undertaken)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (accusative plural)

• परपरिग्रहाः: belonging to others (another’s wives)
• परपरिग्रहाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (परस्य परिग्रहः = अन्यस्य स्वामित्वम्); स्त्रीलिङ्गे स्त्रियः इति विशेष्ये विशेषणम्; द्वितीया बहुवचन (agreeing with स्त्रियः)

• आयुषः: of lifespan
• आयुषः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive singular)

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• कीर्तेः: of fame
• कीर्तेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• तेजसः: of splendor
• तेजसः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• यशसः: of glory
• यशसः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• श्रियः: of prosperity
• श्रियः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa discourse, likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cautionary scene: the king’s predatory approach causes his aura to dim; symbols of lost fortune—fallen crown jewel, extinguished lamp, withered garland—mark the erosion of life and glory.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Violating another’s spouse is presented as a grave adharma that destroys merit, reputation, and prosperity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is on moral causality (karma) and social dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a prohibition by implication—avoid paradāra (another’s spouse).