Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

भज वत्स सतां मार्गं सदेव चरितं चर । न देवाज्ञां विलंघेथा मा कार्षीर्देवहेलनम्

Transliteration

bhaja vatsa satāṃ mārgaṃ sadeva caritaṃ cara | na devājñāṃ vilaṃghethā mā kārṣīrdevahelanam

Translation

My child, follow the path of the virtuous and live in conduct worthy of the Devas. Do not transgress the divine command, and never show contempt toward the Devas.

Word by Word

• भज: worship; resort to
• भज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मार्गम्: path
• मार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदेव: together with the gods; divine
• सदेव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स + देव (अव्यय + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय (adverbial)

• चरितम्: conduct; practice
• चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भूतकृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृत्/कृतप्रत्ययान्त (past participial noun)

• चर: practice; follow
• चर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• देवाज्ञाम्: the command of God
• देवाज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): देवस्य आज्ञा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विलङ्घेथाः: you should not transgress
• विलङ्घेथाः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्; निषेधेन सह (prohibitive sense with न)

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (prohibitive particle)

• कार्षीः: do (not do)
• कार्षीः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्; मा-योगे निषेधार्थ (prohibitive aorist)

• देवहेलनम्: disrespect toward the gods
• देवहेलनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + हेलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): देवानां हेलनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Unspecified elder/teacher figure in Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (didactic instruction)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: vat्सा / disciple-like addressee

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A venerable elder/guru instructs a young disciple: the disciple stands with folded hands; behind them a small shrine with lamps symbolizes deva-ājñā and reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Deva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adopt the conduct of the righteous, honor the Devas, and never violate sacred injunctions.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse gives general Purāṇic dharma guidance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it prescribes ethical discipline—obedience to divine injunctions and avoidance of deva-nindā.