Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

वाच्यमानं न शृण्वंति हरेश्चरितमुत्तमम् । करपत्रैश्च पीड्यंते सुतीव्रैर्यम शासनात्

Transliteration

vācyamānaṃ na śṛṇvaṃti hareścaritamuttamam | karapatraiśca pīḍyaṃte sutīvrairyama śāsanāt

Translation

Wer sich weigert zu hören, wenn die höchstheiligen Taten Haris vorgetragen werden, wird nach Yamas Gebot von überaus scharfen, handgleichen Klingen gepeinigt.

Word by Word

• वाच्यमानं: being recited
• वाच्यमानं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वच् + य + मान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); वर्तमानकृदन्त/कर्मणि (being spoken/recited)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• शृण्वन्ति: hear/listen
• शृण्वन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Present Indicative, 3rd pl.)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• चरितम्: deeds/story
• चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; चर् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); भूतकृदन्त (deed/story)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेषण

• करपत्रैः: by hand-leaves (sharp blades)
• करपत्रैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); तत्पुरुष (करस्य पत्राणि)

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

• पीड्यन्ते: are tormented
• पीड्यन्ते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Present Indicative, 3rd pl., Passive)

• सुतीव्रैः: by very intense (ones)
• सुतीव्रैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्ग-युक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental, Plural); विशेषण

• यम: of Yama
• यम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण) (Masculine; used in compound relation)

• शासनात्: from/owing to punishment
• शासनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice within Dvārakā Māhātmya; specific speaker not stated in the verse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā-kṣetra (Hari-kathā-sthala)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A recitation assembly (sabhā) where Hari’s deeds are being read; one figure turns away with closed ears; in a visionary overlay, Yama’s ordinance manifests as ‘hand-like blades’ tormenting the offender—symbolic of karmic consequence for rejecting sacred sound.

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Yama

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Listening to Hari’s sacred deeds (hari-carita/hari-kathā) is a core duty; willful refusal is treated as a serious spiritual fault.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader context is Dvārakā Māhātmya, emphasizing devotion and conduct connected to Dvārakā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The implied prescription is śravaṇa—reverent listening to the recitation of Hari’s excellent deeds.