Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

पातकानां कुले नष्टे नरकाः शून्यतां गताः । नरके शून्यतां याते मम राज्यं हि निष्फलम्

Transliteration

pātakānāṃ kule naṣṭe narakāḥ śūnyatāṃ gatāḥ | narake śūnyatāṃ yāte mama rājyaṃ hi niṣphalam

Translation

Wenn das Geschlecht der Sünden vernichtet ist, werden die Höllen leer. Und sind die Höllen leer, so wird mein Reich wahrlich fruchtlos.

Word by Word

• पातकानाम्: of sinners
• पातकानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• कुले: when/where the clan
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नष्टे: being destroyed
• नष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √naś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when (it is) destroyed’

• नरकाः: hells
• नरकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शून्यताम्: emptiness
• शून्यताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūnyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गताः: have become/attained
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘have gone/attained’

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• शून्यताम्: emptiness
• शून्यताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūnyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• याते: having gone (to)
• याते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी: ‘when (it has) gone’

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राज्यम्: kingdom/rule
• राज्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/emphasis/causal particle)

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (fruitless)

Speaker

Yama (to Brahmā)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast, usually fiery naraka landscape shown eerily empty—extinguished flames, silent gates—while Yama stands contemplative, his regalia intact but his realm inactive; the paradox of ‘fruitless kingdom’ is central.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Brahmā
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification through Rudra-centered practice is depicted as so effective that it disrupts the usual cycle of punishment and retribution.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse is cosmological, describing Naraka and Yama’s domain.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse continues the consequence of widespread Rudra-oriented purification.