Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

मिथ्याप्रसादितो वाक्यमाकर्णयति यः शनैः । चपलश्चापिमायावी शठो मिथ्याविनीतकः

Transliteration

mithyāprasādito vākyamākarṇayati yaḥ śanaiḥ | capalaścāpimāyāvī śaṭho mithyāvinītakaḥ

Translation

Wer durch falsche Schmeichelei gewonnen wird und Ratschläge nur zögernd anhört; wer wankelmütig, trügerisch, verschlagen ist und Demut nur heuchelt—den tadeln die Weisen als ungeeignet für ein dharmisches Leben.

Word by Word

• मिथ्या: falsely
• मिथ्या: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रसादितः: (one who is) falsely appeased/induced
• प्रसादितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसादि (कृदन्त; धातु √सद्/√साद्? causative sense from √सद्/साद् with प्र-; past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रत्ययार्थः), कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘प्रसादितः’ = ‘प्रसन्नीकृतः/प्रलोभितः’

• वाक्यम्: speech/statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आकर्णयति: he listens/hears
• आकर्णयति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कर्ण् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• शनैः: slowly/gradually
• शनैः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चपलः: fickle/restless
• चपलः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: also/even)

• मायावी: deceitful/illusory
• मायावी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• शठः: a rogue/cheat
• शठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मिथ्या: falsely
• मिथ्या: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (as preverbial adverb in compound)

• विनीतकः: pretending to be humble/disciplinable
• विनीतकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीतक (प्रातिपदिक; √नी (धातु) + वि-; कृदन्ताधारित विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘विनीतक’ = ‘विनीत इव’ (pseudo-modest)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A council-like setting: a self-satisfied man leans toward flattering courtiers while a calm sage points to a dharma-śāstra palm-leaf; the hypocrite’s folded hands are shown as theatrical, contrasted with the sage’s steady gaze.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True vinaya (humility) and honest discernment are dharmic; hypocrisy, fickleness, and being swayed by flattery lead one away from righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse focuses on inner character and discernment.