Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

प्राणाधिकं भैमसेनिं कथं केवलसाहसात् । क्षिपेयं तव वाक्यानां शुद्धानां चाथ कोविदम्

Transliteration

prāṇādhikaṃ bhaimaseniṃ kathaṃ kevalasāhasāt | kṣipeyaṃ tava vākyānāṃ śuddhānāṃ cātha kovidam

Translation

Wie könnte ich aus bloß tollkühnem Wagemut Bhīmasena verstoßen, der mir lieber ist als das Leben? Und wie könnte ich deine Worte, rein und weise, beiseiteschieben?

Word by Word

• प्राणाधिकम्: more dear than life
• प्राणाधिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राणाधिक (प्रातिपदिक; प्राण + अधिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैमसेनिम्)

• भैमसेनिम्: Bhīma (son of Bhīmasena)
• भैमसेनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैमसेनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (Interrogative adverb/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: how)

• केवलसाहसात्: from mere rashness
• केवलसाहसात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केवल-साहस (प्रातिपदिक; केवल + साहस)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• क्षिपेयम्: should I cast away
• क्षिपेयम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (लिङ्ग-अनिश्चित)

• वाक्यानाम्: of (your) words
• वाक्यानाम्: Sambandha (Of words/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शुद्धानाम्: pure; faultless
• शुद्धानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण (वाक्यानाम्)

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

• अथ: then; moreover
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गार्थक (particle: then/now)

• कोविदम्: skilled; wise
• कोविदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैमसेनिम्)

Speaker

Narrative voice (speaker not named in verse; respondent addressing a counselor)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful exchange: the speaker torn between affection for Bhīma and reverence for Kṛṣṇa’s wise words; Bhīma present as a strong, beloved figure; Kṛṣṇa calm, advising.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīmasena

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma honors both loyalty to loved ones and reverence for wise, pure counsel; rashness is condemned.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a statement of ethical restraint and respect for wisdom.