Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 124

Devanagari script

चिरेण मंत्रं संधीयाच्चिरेम च कृतं त्यजेत् । चिरेण विहतं मित्रं चिरं धारणमर्हति

Transliteration

cireṇa maṃtraṃ saṃdhīyāccirema ca kṛtaṃ tyajet | cireṇa vihataṃ mitraṃ ciraṃ dhāraṇamarhati

Translation

Ein Mantra wird nur mit der Zeit zur Vollendung gebracht; ein Werk, das erst nach langem Zögern getan wird, soll man aufgeben. Ein Freund aus langer Gemeinschaft, dem man schadete, verdient langes Ertragen und beständigen Beistand.

Word by Word

• चिरेण: after a long time / with delay
• चिरेण: Kala (Time/temporal instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कालवाचक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कालार्थे

• मन्त्रम्: counsel, plan
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• संधीयात्: should make/arrange, should form (a plan)
• संधीयात्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्

• चिरेम: after a long time (variant form)
• चिरेम: Kala (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कालवाचक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; पाठभेद/रूपभेद: चिरेण इत्यर्थे

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• कृतम्: a deed, what has been done
• कृतम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु-जन्य क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, कर्मवाच्ये ‘कृतं (कार्यं)’

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चिरेण: after a long time
• चिरेण: Kala (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कालवाचक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विहतम्: struck, harmed
• विहतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहत (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् धातु-जन्य क्त-प्रत्यय, उपसर्ग: वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• मित्रम्: friend
• मित्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kala (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• धारणम्: support, sustaining, keeping
• धारणम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ धातु-जन्य ल्युट्/अन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्रियानाम

• अर्हति: deserves, is fit for
• अर्हति: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Gautama (quoted within Sūta’s narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sage teaches three maxims: slow ripening of mantra, renunciation of stale delayed deeds, and patient support of an old friend; disciples visualize mantra as a growing flame.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Patience is essential for spiritual practice, but discernment is needed: some delayed actions should be dropped, while old bonds deserve endurance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is a general dharma maxim (gāthā).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mantra practice is implied: mantra-siddhi is attained gradually through sustained practice over time.