Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

अन्यायेनार्जितं द्रव्यमपात्रे प्रतिपादितम् । क्लिष्टं च विधिहीनं च वृद्धभावे तदश्नुते

Transliteration

anyāyenārjitaṃ dravyamapātre pratipāditam | kliṣṭaṃ ca vidhihīnaṃ ca vṛddhabhāve tadaśnute

Translation

Doch Reichtum, der ungerecht erworben und einem Unwürdigen gegeben wird, unter Mühsal oder ohne die gebührende Vorschrift—dessen Frucht kostet man erst im Alter, geschmälert und beschwerlich.

Word by Word

• अन्यायेन: by injustice
• अन्यायेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by unjust means)

• अर्जितम्: acquired
• अर्जितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्य-विशेषण

• द्रव्यम्: wealth/property
• द्रव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• अपात्रे: to an unworthy recipient
• अपात्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (recipient-context)

• प्रतिपादितम्: given/handed over
• प्रतिपादितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + पद् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP of causative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्य-विशेषण

• क्लिष्टम्: tainted/troublesome
• क्लिष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्य-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• विधिहीनम्: devoid of proper procedure
• विधिहीनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विधेः हीनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्य-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• वृद्धभावे: in old age
• वृद्धभावे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृद्धस्य भावः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (state/time)

• तत्: that (fruit)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अश्नुते: experiences
• अश्नुते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Deductive (Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya narrative voice; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa reporting a teaching)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A donor stands at a sacred precinct but offers ill-gotten wealth to an unworthy figure; the merit appears as a withered, delayed fruit, while Time (jarā/old age) looms, showing the diminished result of flawed charity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When giving is corrupted by unjust earnings, wrong recipients, or improper method, its karmic return becomes delayed and impaired.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The counsel is delivered within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya, presenting dharmic charity as integral to sacred travel and worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avoid anyāyārjita dravya, apātra-dāna, and vidhihīna dāna; follow proper procedure for timely and pure merit.