Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

चरेद्धर्मानकटुको मुंचेत्स्नेहमनास्तिके । अनृशंसश्चरेदर्थं चरेत्काममनुद्धतः

Transliteration

careddharmānakaṭuko muṃcetsnehamanāstike | anṛśaṃsaścaredarthaṃ caretkāmamanuddhataḥ

Translation

Er übe den Dharma ohne Härte; er löse die Bindung an die Glaubenslosen. Er erwerbe Reichtum ohne Grausamkeit und genieße rechtmäßige Freuden ohne Überheblichkeit.

Word by Word

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Injunctive/should)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्मान्: duties/righteous acts
• धर्मान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अकटुकः: not harsh
• अकटुकः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + कटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (not harsh/bitter)

• मुंचेत्: should abandon/release
• मुंचेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्नेहम्: attachment/affection
• स्नेहम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनास्तिके: in a non-believer/atheist
• अनास्तिके: Adhikarana (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देश (in a non-believer)

• अनृशंसः: compassionate
• अनृशंसः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (compassionate/not cruel)

• चरेत्: should pursue/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अर्थम्: wealth/purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरेत्: should pursue
• चरेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कामम्: desire/pleasure
• कामम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुद्धतः: not proud/unhaughty
• अनुद्धतः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + उद्धत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √उद्-धन्/धृ with उत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (not arrogant)

Speaker

Nārada

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (within Prabhāsa)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bali

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic four-panel teaching: (1) king dispensing justice gently, (2) turning away from a corrupt/faithless counselor, (3) fair taxation and protection of subjects, (4) royal enjoyment tempered by humility.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Kṣatriya/King (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic rāja-dharma teaches balance: firmness without harshness, prosperity without cruelty, enjoyment without pride.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse occurs within Vastrāpatha-kṣetra Māhātmya (Prabhāsa), framing governance ideals within a sacred-kṣetra discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a behavioral prescription (ācāra) for rulers.