Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 94

Devanagari script

सर्वार्थं निर्मितं शास्त्रं मनोबुद्धी तथैव च । दत्ते विधात्रा सर्वेषां तथापि यदि पापिनः

Transliteration

sarvārthaṃ nirmitaṃ śāstraṃ manobuddhī tathaiva ca | datte vidhātrā sarveṣāṃ tathāpi yadi pāpinaḥ

Translation

The scriptures were fashioned for every purpose, and mind and intellect too were granted by the Creator to all. Yet if people still become sinful…

Word by Word

• sarva-artham: all purposes; every aim
• sarva-artham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/विषय (object/purpose)

• nirmitam: made, constructed
• nirmitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√mā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• śāstram: scripture; teaching
• śāstram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• manas: mind
• manas: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• buddhī: intellects (mind and intellect)
• buddhī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन; (पाठे मनोबुद्धी = मनः + बुद्धी)

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/so)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अवधारण (emphasis: indeed/just)

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

• datte: gives
• datte: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• vidhātrā: by the Creator (Disposer)
• vidhātrā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• tathā: still, nevertheless
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'nevertheless/so' (discourse adverb)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अपि = 'even/also'

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तसूचक-अव्यय (conditional)

• pāpinaḥ: sinful (ones)
• pāpinaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (implied: people)

Speaker

Nakula (contextual continuation)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Personified Creator (Vidhātṛ/Brahmā) bestows a manuscript (śāstra) and a luminous ‘mind-intellect’ motif to humans; some accept with reverence, others turn away toward darker actions.

Characters & Entities

• Śāstra
• Vidhātṛ (Creator/Ordainer)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even with śāstra and intellect given by the Creator, individuals remain accountable for choosing dharma over sin.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned; the verse frames a general principle of dharma and moral agency.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it discusses the basis of ethical responsibility rather than a specific practice.