Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

परोपकरणं कायादसारात्सारमुद्धरेत् । धर्मे रागः श्रुतौ चिंता दाने व्यसनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

paropakaraṇaṃ kāyādasārātsāramuddharet | dharme rāgaḥ śrutau ciṃtā dāne vyasanamuttamam

Translation

Aus dem vergänglichen Körper soll man das Wesentliche gewinnen: den Dienst am Anderen. Liebe zum Dharma, Nachsinnen über die heilige Lehre und eine erhabene „Sucht“ nach Geben (Almosen) — das ist das Beste.

Word by Word

• परोपकरणम्: helping others; service to others
• परोपकरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + उपकारण/उपकरण (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (परस्य उपकारणम्/परोपकारणम् = परेषां उपकारः)

• कायात्: from the body
• कायात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असारात्: from the worthless (thing)
• असारात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सारम्: the essence
• सारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उद्धरेत्: should extract, should draw out
• उद्धरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: उत्

• धर्मे: in dharma; in righteousness
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रागः: attachment, love
• रागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुतौ: in hearing; in sacred learning
• श्रुतौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिन्ता: concern, reflection
• चिन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दाने: in giving; in charity
• दाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यसनम्: addiction; intense inclination
• व्यसनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (व्यसनम् इति)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A human figure holding a fragile body-symbol (withered leaf/earthen pot) draws out a glowing jewel labeled ‘paropakāra’; nearby are three panels: devotion to dharma, contemplation of śruti (open palm-leaf manuscript), and generous giving (hands offering food/coins).

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Śruti
• Dāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The ‘essence’ to be drawn from a fragile human body is altruistic service, devotion to Dharma, scriptural reflection, and habitual generosity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified; the verse is a universal dharma-instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna (charity) is praised as an ideal, along with sustained engagement in Dharma and scripture.