Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

मिथ्याजीवविरोधी विशसने कूटशस्त्रकृत् । अधोमुखे ह्यसद्ग्राही एकाशी पूयवाहके

Transliteration

mithyājīvavirodhī viśasane kūṭaśastrakṛt | adhomukhe hyasadgrāhī ekāśī pūyavāhake

Translation

ন্যায্য জীবিকার বিরোধী ‘বিশসন’ নরকে যায়; প্রতারণামূলক অস্ত্র নির্মাতা সেও সেখানে যায়। অসত্যগ্রাহী ‘অধোমুখ’ নরকে পতিত হয়; আর একা ভোজনকারী ‘পূয়বাহক’ নরক প্রাপ্ত হয়।

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.