Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

तैलाभ्यंगादिभिर्यत्नैर्बहुभिः पाल्यते न चेत् । किं कृत्यं साध्यते तेन यदि भारं वहेन्न हि

Transliteration

tailābhyaṃgādibhiryatnairbahubhiḥ pālyate na cet | kiṃ kṛtyaṃ sādhyate tena yadi bhāraṃ vahenna hi

Translation

Wenn ein Wagen nicht mit vielen Anstrengungen gewartet wird – wie zum Beispiel Ölen und dergleichen –, welche Aufgabe kann dann mit ihm erfüllt werden, wenn er nicht einmal die Last tragen kann?

Word by Word

• तैलाभ्यङ्गादिभिः: by oil-massage and other (means)
• तैलाभ्यङ्गादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल-अभ्यङ्ग-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; तैल + अभ्यङ्ग + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masc., 'आदि' as head), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचनम् (plural); समाहार/समुच्चयार्थः ('by oil-massage etc.')

• यत्नैः: by efforts/care
• यत्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masc.), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masc.), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• पाल्यते: is protected/maintained
• पाल्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular), कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

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

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्ययम् (conditional particle: if)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neut.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कृत्यम्: task/purpose
• कृत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neut.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• साध्यते: is accomplished
• साध्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular), कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• तेन: by that/with it
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neut.), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्ययम् (if)

• भारम्: load
• भारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masc.), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• वहेत्: would carry
• वहेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular), परस्मैपदम्

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

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थकः (indeed/for)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A craftsman oils a chariot axle while a pilgrim-sādhaka watches; the scene parallels daily regimen—oil flask, cloth, wheel, and a rosary—suggesting maintenance for spiritual travel.

Characters & Entities

• Tailābhyaṅga (oiling)
• Syaṁdana implied (chariot)
• Bhāra (load)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Maintain the body with discipline so it can bear the ‘load’ of dharma—worship, charity, vows, and service.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the teaching is ethical and practical.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual; it recommends responsible upkeep (symbolized by oiling) so one can perform dharmic duties.