Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अन्नादे भ्रूणहा मार्ष्टि पत्यौ भार्या पचारिणी । गुरौ शिष्यश्च याज्यश्च स्तेनो राजनि किल्बिषम्

Transliteration

annāde bhrūṇahā mārṣṭi patyau bhāryā pacāriṇī | gurau śiṣyaśca yājyaśca steno rājani kilbiṣam

Translation

Ein Embryomörder überträgt seine Sünde auf den Spender der Nahrung; eine untreue Ehefrau überträgt sie auf ihren Ehemann; ein Schüler auf seinen Guru und ein amtierender Priester auf den Schutzherrn; und ein Dieb lädt seine Schuld auf den König.

Word by Word

• अन्नादे: in/for the food-eater
• अन्नादे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नाद (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + आद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अन्नाद’ = अन्नस्य आदः/अत्ता (food-eater)

• भ्रूणहा: the embryo-killer
• भ्रूणहा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रूणहन् (प्रातिपदिक; भ्रूण + हन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भ्रूणं हन्ति’ इति

• मार्ष्टि: wipes off/cleanses
• मार्ष्टि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पत्यौ: in/with the husband
• पत्यौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भार्या: the wife
• भार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पचारिणी: the one who cooks/serves (as wife)
• पचारिणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पचारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; पच्-चारिन् + ङीप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पच्’ (to cook) इत्यस्य कर्मणि/व्यवहार-सम्बन्धी चारिन् (one who acts)

• गुरौ: in/with the teacher
• गुरौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शिष्यः: the student
• शिष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• याज्यः: the patron (for whom rites are done)
• याज्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्य (प्रातिपदिक; √यज् से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘याज्य’ = यजनीयः (one for whom sacrifice is performed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्तेनः: the thief
• स्तेनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राजनि: in/with the king
• राजनि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• किल्बिषम्: sin, guilt
• किल्बिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Vāsudeva

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Guha (Skanda/Kumāra)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sequence tableau: (1) embryo-slayer approaching an annadātā; (2) unfaithful wife beside husband; (3) disciple before guru; (4) priest and yajamāna at altar; (5) thief and king’s court—each linked by a subtle dark thread symbolizing transferred guilt.

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• King

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma teaches shared accountability: when protectors, providers, and authorities fail, the burden of others’ wrongdoing can fall upon them.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy place is mentioned; the verse is a general dharma teaching.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; it references the yajamāna–ṛtvij (patron–priest) relationship as a moral responsibility.