Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

कर्मणा येन जायेत तत्सेव्यं भवता सदा । देशं कालं च शक्तिं च कार्यं चा कार्यमेव च

Transliteration

karmaṇā yena jāyeta tatsevyaṃ bhavatā sadā | deśaṃ kālaṃ ca śaktiṃ ca kāryaṃ cā kāryameva ca

Translation

That conduct by which good results are born should always be practiced by you. Consider the place, the time, your capacity, what ought to be done, and what ought not to be done.

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Pronoun, Instrumental, Singular

• जायेत: may arise/be born
• जायेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) (आत्मनेपद)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative, Singular; सेव्यम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सेव्यम्: to be practised/served
• सेव्यम्: Karya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √सेव् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त; भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative, Singular; कर्तव्यत्वार्थक (to be served/practised)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karta (Agent-instrumental/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; संबोधित-आदरार्थ (by you, sir)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• देशम्: place
• देशम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• शक्तिम्: capacity/ability
• शक्तिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कार्यम्: what should be done
• कार्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• अकार्यम्: what should not be done
• अकार्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

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

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher-sage points to a fourfold diagram labeled deśa-kāla-śakti-kārya; a disciple/king listens, with background vignettes showing different seasons and landscapes indicating contextual action.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma must be applied with discernment—right action depends on context: place, time, and one’s ability.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is praised; the verse teaches contextual ethics.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it prescribes viveka (discrimination) in all duties and decisions.