Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 25
Devanagari script
एतैर्यद्यत्समादिष्टं शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् । कर्तव्यं नियतं भीतैरप्रमत्तैर्बुभूषुभिः
Transliteration
etairyadyatsamādiṣṭaṃ śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham | kartavyaṃ niyataṃ bhītairapramattairbubhūṣubhiḥ
Translation
Whatever is commanded by these—whether auspicious or inauspicious—must certainly be done by those who are fearful, vigilant, and desirous of continued life and security.
Word by Word
एतैःby these (persons/authorities)
एतैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करणवाचक
यत्whatever
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘समादिष्टम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-निर्देश
यत्whatever (each)
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्तिः (यद्यत् = यत् यत्)
समादिष्टम्commanded, enjoined
समादिष्टम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-√diś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ordered/commanded’
शुभम्auspicious (act)
शुभम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विकल्पे (वा)
वाor
वा:
Nipata (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात
यदिif
यदि:
Nipata (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyadi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; शर्त/सम्भावनार्थक
वाor
वा:
Nipata (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात
अशुभम्inauspicious (act)
अशुभम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roota-śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विकल्पे
कर्तव्यम्must be done
कर्तव्यम्:
Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्य)
Formकृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यता
नियमम्certainly, obligatorily
नियमम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootniyata (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
भीतैःby the fearful
भीतैः:
Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhīta (प्रातिपदिक; √bhī + kta)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (करणे प्रयोगः)
अप्रमत्तैःby the vigilant, uncareless
अप्रमत्तैः:
Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
TypeAdjective
Roota-pramatta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण
बुभूषुभिःby those wishing to live/be (to survive)
बुभूषुभिः:
Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
TypeAdjective
Root√bhū (धातु) + san (सन्) + u (उ) → bubhūṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसन्नन्त-इच्छार्थक कृदन्त (बुभूषु = ‘भवितुमिच्छन्’); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण
Speaker
Rājā (king) (contextual continuation from v.24)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A vigilant person stands with a lamp (apramāda) performing a commanded task despite stormy weather; behind, symbols of authority watch approvingly.
Characters & Entities
A
Authority (daivatā-guru-pitṛ-rāja)Ś
Śubha/Aśubha (auspicious/inauspicious acts)FAQs
It presents a ruler’s pragmatic doctrine: survival and order depend on disciplined compliance with recognized authority.
No holy site is mentioned in this verse.
None.