Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 88

Devanagari script

दावाग्निदाहका ये च सततं येऽसुहिंसकाः । न्यासापहारिणो ये च गरदाः स्वामिवञ्चकाः

Transliteration

dāvāgnidāhakā ye ca satataṃ ye'suhiṃsakāḥ | nyāsāpahāriṇo ye ca garadāḥ svāmivañcakāḥ

Translation

Diejenigen, die Wälder in Brand setzen, die fortwährend Lebewesen verletzen, die anvertraute Hinterlagen stehlen, Giftmischer und die ihre eigenen Herren betrügen—(auch sie werden unter den Sündern aufgezählt).

Word by Word

• दावाग्निदाहकाः: those who set forest-fires / burners by wildfire
• दावाग्निदाहकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाव-अग्नि-दाहक (प्रातिपदिक; दाव + अग्नि + दाहक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘दावाग्निं दहन्ति’ इत्यर्थे

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्राय)
• Form: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

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

• असुहिंसकाः: killers of living beings
• असुहिंसकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असु-हिंसक (प्रातिपदिक; असु + हिंसक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘प्राणहिंसकाः’

• न्यासापहारिणः: embezzlers of deposits/trusts
• न्यासापहारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास-अपहारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; न्यास + अपहारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘न्यासं अपहरन्ति’

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• गरदाः: poisoners
• गरदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विषप्रदाः/विषयोजकाः’

• स्वामिवञ्चकाः: deceivers of their masters
• स्वामिवञ्चकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामि-वञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक; स्वामिन् + वञ्चक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘स्वामिनं वञ्चयन्ति’

Speaker

Munis (continuation of catalogue)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A forest edge near a river: flames rising from arson; animals fleeing; a poisoner with a hidden vial; a thief taking a sealed deposit; a servant whispering deceit to a master; a sage/guardian figure stands as moral witness.

Characters & Entities

• Dāvāgni
• Nyāsa (deposit/entrustment)
• Garada (poisoner)
• Svāmi (master)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma protects life, trust, and social order; violence, arson, poisoning, and breach of trust are condemned as grievous harms.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is praised in this verse; it serves the Revā Khaṇḍa’s ethical instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it lists categories of wrongdoing.