Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

मद्रूपान्घ्नन्ति ये विप्रान्विकर्म कारयंति च । अप्रेषणे प्रेषयंति दासत्वं कारयन्ति च

Transliteration

madrūpānghnanti ye viprānvikarma kārayaṃti ca | apreṣaṇe preṣayaṃti dāsatvaṃ kārayanti ca

Translation

Wer Brahmanen schlägt — die Meine eigene Gestalt sind —, sie zu verbotenen Taten zwingt, sie zu unziemlichen Botengängen schickt und sie in Knechtschaft drängt, (lädt schwerste Sünde auf sich).

Word by Word

• मत्-रूपान्: those of my form
• मत्-रूपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-सम्बन्धि) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मम रूपाः = my forms; here 'those who are my form')

• घ्नन्ति: kill, strike
• घ्नन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (present indicative, 3rd plural)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun: 'who')

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

• विकर्म: wrong act, forbidden act
• विकर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म-प्रयोगः (neuter accusative singular)

• कारयन्ति: cause (others) to do
• कारयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: 'make (someone) do')

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

• अप्रेषणे: when not commanded / without being sent
• अप्रेषणे: Adhikarana (Location/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रेषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: 'in/when there is no sending/command')

• प्रेषयन्ति: send, dispatch
• प्रेषयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रेष् (धातु) णिच्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: 'send/dispatch')

• दासत्वम्: slavery, servitude
• दासत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• कारयन्ति: make (someone) become/do
• कारयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) णिच्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

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

Speaker

Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer (generic)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau: a radiant brāhmaṇa figure subtly shown as ‘divine-form’, while shadowy men commit coercion—striking, forcing forbidden labor, sending humiliating errands, and imposing servitude; above, an unseen cosmic witness implies inevitable retribution.

Characters & Entities

• Vipra
• Dharma (vikarma)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Violence, coercion, and exploitation—especially of sacred functionaries—rebound as severe karmic consequence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra; the Māhātmya uses ethical warnings to shape worthy conduct for pilgrims and householders.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prohibition relevant to ritual life: do not compel Brāhmaṇas into improper labor or forbidden actions, nor treat them as servants.