Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 132

Devanagari script

ज्ञानानां बहुता येयं योगविघ्नकरी हि सा । इदं ज्ञेयमिदं ज्ञेयमिति यस्तृषितश्चरेत्

Transliteration

jñānānāṃ bahutā yeyaṃ yogavighnakarī hi sā | idaṃ jñeyamidaṃ jñeyamiti yastṛṣitaścaret

Translation

Diese übermäßige Vielheit an «Wissen» wird wahrlich zum Hindernis für Yoga. Wer dürstend umherirrt—„dies muss erkannt werden, dies muss erkannt werden“—wird dadurch selbst gehemmt.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानानाम्: of knowledges/branches of knowledge
• ज्ञानानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• बहुता: multiplicity/abundance
• बहुता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abundance/multiplicity)

• या: which
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक सर्वनाम

• योगविघ्नकरी: obstructive to yoga
• योगविघ्नकरी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + करिन्/करी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (योगस्य विघ्नं करोति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुता-विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय; अवधारण/हेतु (indeed/for)

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

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma/Pratipādya (Demonstrative complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma/Pratipādya (Demonstrative complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-निपात (quotative particle)

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

• तृषितः: thirsting/eager
• तृषितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृषित (प्रातिपदिक; √तृष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; यः-विशेषण

• चरेत्: would roam/pursue
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A seeker surrounded by many scrolls and teachers, walking in circles with a thirsty expression; in contrast, a single lamp/inner flame stands steady, symbolizing focused knowledge.

Characters & Entities

• yoga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Information-hunger can become a yogic obstacle; spiritual progress requires focused, assimilated knowledge rather than endless acquisition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse is a general teaching on yoga and knowledge.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A cautionary prescription: avoid restless pursuit of countless topics and cultivate single-pointed learning aligned with realization.