Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

म्लेच्छप्रायाश्च भूपाला भविष्यन्त्यमराधिप । लोकः करिष्यते निन्दां साधूनां व्रतचारिणाम्

Transliteration

mlecchaprāyāśca bhūpālā bhaviṣyantyamarādhipa | lokaḥ kariṣyate nindāṃ sādhūnāṃ vratacāriṇām

Translation

O Herr der Unsterblichen, die Könige werden größtenteils mleccha-gleich werden; und die Menschen werden die Rechtschaffenen schmähen—die Sādhus, die Gelübde halten und heilige Lebensführung üben.

Word by Word

• म्लेच्छ-प्रायाः: mostly like mlecchas/barbarian-like
• म्लेच्छ-प्रायाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: म्लेच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (भूपालाः); तत्पुरुष-समास (म्लेच्छवत्-प्रायः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भूपालाः: kings/rulers
• भूपालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भविष्यन्ति: will become/will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• अमर-अधिप: O lord of the immortals
• अमर-अधिप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• लोकः: the people/world
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करिष्यते: will do/will make
• करिष्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• निन्दाम्: censure/blame
• निन्दाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• साधूनाम्: of the good/saints
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• व्रत-चारिणाम्: of those who practice vows
• व्रत-चारिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (व्रतं चरन्ति ये)

Speaker

Bṛhaspati (addressing Indra; within Prahlāda’s narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvijāḥ / sages (and by extension the audience)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A darkening yuga-scene: kings with foreign/mleccha traits enthroned, while vow-keepers and ascetics are mocked by townsfolk; the atmosphere is heavy, with dharma personified as weakened.

Characters & Entities

• Amarādhipa (Indra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It warns that Kali Yuga corrupts leadership and social values, making saintly vows and integrity targets of ridicule.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; the verse explains social degeneration that prompts the quest for a Kali-avoided sanctuary.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (religious vows) are referenced as a defining mark of sādhus, implicitly urging perseverance in vowed conduct.