Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

तपोबलेन महता तथा दानबलेन च । वेत्तुं न शक्यो मदंनो विनयेन विना द्विजाः

Transliteration

tapobalena mahatā tathā dānabalena ca | vettuṃ na śakyo madaṃno vinayena vinā dvijāḥ

Translation

Weder durch große Kraft der Askese noch durch die Kraft der Gabe lässt sich Madana wahrhaft erkennen ohne Demut, o Zweimalgeborene.

Word by Word

• तपो-बलेन: by the power of austerity
• तपो-बलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तपसः बलम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• महता: great
• महता: Karana (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘तपोबलेन’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb; ‘likewise/also’)

• दान-बलेन: by the power of giving
• दान-बलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; दानस्य बलम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वेत्तुम्: to know
• वेत्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; अर्थः—ज्ञातुम् (to know)

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• शक्यः: possible/able
• शक्यः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; √शक्-सम्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्तव्य/यत्-भावार्थ (possible/able to be)

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पाठभेद-सूचना: IAST ‘madaṃno’ सम्भवतः ‘madano’ (मदनः)

• विनयेन: by humility/discipline
• विनयेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Avyaya (Preposition-like)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय (prepositional indeclinable; ‘without’), तृतीयासम्बन्धी

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयोगः (addressing)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvijas (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher-like figure addressing ‘dvijas’ in a Himalayan hermitage; tapasvins with matted hair and donors with offerings are shown, but the focus is on a bowed head and folded hands symbolizing vinaya.

Characters & Entities

• Madana
• Dvijas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Austerity and charity are incomplete without vinaya (humility); inner discipline is essential for true understanding.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching is embedded in Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Kedāra-kṣetra context, supporting its dharmic tone.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna (charity) and tapas (austerity) are referenced as spiritual powers, with humility emphasized as indispensable.