Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

पठित्वा सकलं जन्म ब्रह्मचारि यथा वृथा । बहुक्लेशात्प्राप्तभार्यः सावृथाऽप्रियवादिनी

Transliteration

paṭhitvā sakalaṃ janma brahmacāri yathā vṛthā | bahukleśātprāptabhāryaḥ sāvṛthā'priyavādinī

Translation

„Selbst wenn man das ganze Leben nur mit ‘Studieren’ verbringt, kann man wie ein Brahmacārin vergeblich bleiben. Und selbst eine Frau, die man nach vielen Mühen gewinnt, kann sich als ‘vergeblich’ erweisen, wenn sie hart ist und Unangenehmes spricht.“

Word by Word

• पठित्वा: having studied/read
• पठित्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: पठ्; अर्थे: पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• सकलम्: entire
• सकलम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• जन्म: life/birth (one’s lifetime)
• जन्म: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचारि: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारि: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थेऽपि सम्भवः (vocative sense possible)

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/“as”)

• वृथा: in vain
• वृथा: Kriya-vishesana (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• बहुक्लेशात्: from much hardship
• बहुक्लेशात्: Apadana (source/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (बहवः क्लेशाः यस्मात्)

• प्राप्तभार्यः: having obtained a wife
• प्राप्तभार्यः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त, √प्राप् धातु) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (one who has obtained a wife)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृथा: in vain
• वृथा: Kriya-vishesana (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अप्रियवादिनी: one who speaks unpleasantly
• अप्रियवादिनी: Karta (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (speaking unpleasantly)

Speaker

Dharmavarman (continued)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A reflective householder-scholar sits with palm-leaf manuscripts; beside him a brahmacārin figure symbolizes 'mere study'. In the background, a domestic scene shows discord caused by harsh speech, contrasted with a serene, dharmic household.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmavarman

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

External achievements (study, marriage) are ‘fruitless’ without dharma, harmony, and right conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred place is referenced; it is an ethical reflection within the narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse offers moral evaluation of life choices and outcomes.