Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 200

Devanagari script

याचको ह्यल्पको वास्तु दाता सर्वं विमृश्य वै । तथा विलोक्य चात्मानं ह्यर्थिभ्यश्च ददाति वै

Transliteration

yācako hyalpako vāstu dātā sarvaṃ vimṛśya vai | tathā vilokya cātmānaṃ hyarthibhyaśca dadāti vai

Translation

Die Bitte des Bittenden ist wahrlich gering, doch der Geber erwägt alles; und, auf die eigene Kraft schauend, gibt er den Suchenden.

Word by Word

• याचकः: a petitioner
• याचकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याचक (प्रातिपदिक; from √याच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

• अल्पकः: small / insignificant
• अल्पकः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (याचकः)

• वास्तु: in fact / truly (lit. a thing)
• वास्तु: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थे ‘वस्तुतः/वास्तवम्’ इति अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः (पाठानुसार)

• दाता: the giver
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• विमृश्य: having considered
• विमृश्य: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• वै: indeed
• वै: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• तथा: thus
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• विलोक्य: having looked at
• विलोक्य: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-अव्यय

• अर्थिभ्यः: to the supplicants
• अर्थिभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी (4th/चतुर्थी or 5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान: ‘to the supplicants’)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Speaker

Bali (Virocana-suta)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A reflective moment: the principle of giving is stated—small request, thoughtful giver; Bali appears contemplative, weighing duty and capacity before giving to seekers.

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Vāmana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True charity is thoughtful: a giver reflects on the whole situation and gives according to righteous capacity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra sacred landscape frames the chapter, but this verse is a general dharma-teaching within the story.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It recommends discernment in giving (vimarśa) rather than a specific ritual act.