Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

क्लीबं वा दुरवस्थं वा व्याधितं वृद्धमेव वा । सुस्थिरं दुःस्थिरं वापि पतिमेकं न लंघयेत्

Transliteration

klībaṃ vā duravasthaṃ vā vyādhitaṃ vṛddhameva vā | susthiraṃ duḥsthiraṃ vāpi patimekaṃ na laṃghayet

Translation

Ob er impotent ist, in elender Lage, krank oder betagt—ob standhaft oder wankend—sie soll ihren einen Gatten weder verlassen noch sich gegen ihn stellen.

Word by Word

• क्लीबम्: impotent / eunuch-like
• क्लीबम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लीब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter, accusative singular; adjective)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: “or”)

• दुरवस्थम्: in a bad condition
• दुरवस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; दुरवस्था-तत्पुरुष (neuter accusative singular; adjective)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• व्याधितम्: afflicted / sick
• व्याधितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• वृद्धम्: old
• वृद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter accusative singular; adjective)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• सुस्थिरम्: very steady / stable
• सुस्थिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; सुस्थिर- (well + steady) कर्मधारय (neuter accusative singular)

• दुःस्थिरम्: unstable
• दुःस्थिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुः (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; दुःस्थिर- कर्मधारय (neuter accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (Addition/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc. accusative singular)

• एकम्: one / only
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (masc. accusative singular; adjective qualifying पतिम्)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• लङ्घयेत्: should transgress / overstep
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (should not transgress)

Speaker

Unspecified (Dharmāraṇya narrative voice; didactic instruction in context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devoted wife supports an aged or ill husband in a modest gṛha/āśrama setting; calm, restrained gestures emphasizing steadfast care.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steadfast commitment in adversity is upheld as a dharmic ideal of fidelity and endurance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is ethical guidance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A niyama of unwavering fidelity (not abandoning/transgressing the husband).