Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 161

Devanagari script

धिक्ततो जन्म वीराणां श्लाघ्यं हि मरणं क्षणात् । तदस्माभिः सहैनं त्वं क्षतुमर्हसि वासव

Transliteration

dhiktato janma vīrāṇāṃ ślāghyaṃ hi maraṇaṃ kṣaṇāt | tadasmābhiḥ sahainaṃ tvaṃ kṣatumarhasi vāsava

Translation

“Fie on that life of heroes if it shirks its task; indeed, death in an instant is praiseworthy. Therefore, together with us, you should restrain him, O Vāsava.”

Word by Word

• धिक्: shame! fie!
• धिक्: Sambandha (Exclamation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धिक् (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय (interjection of censure)

• ततः: than that; from that
• ततः: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; अपादान/तुलनार्थ (than that/from that)

• जन्म: birth; life
• जन्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वीराणाम्: of heroes
• वीराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• श्लाघ्यम्: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य (प्रातिपदिक; श्लाघ् धातोः यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षणात्: in a moment; instantly
• क्षणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; कालवाचक

• तत्: that (act/thing)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अस्माभिः: with us; by us
• अस्माभिः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सह: together with
• सह: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: सहकारक-अव्यय (preposition-like: with)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षतुम्: to endure/forbear
• क्षतुम्: Karma (Infinitive goal/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षन्/क्षि? (धातु) → क्षतु (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); अर्थः: ‘क्षन्तुम्/क्षन्तुं’ इव—पाठभेदसम्भव; क्रियार्थक

• अर्हसि: you ought; you are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वासव: O Vāsava (Indra)
• वासव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Devas (collectively) addressing Vāsava (Indra) within Sūta’s narration

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Vāsava (Indra)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A forceful admonition: a deva (or leader among devas) gestures sharply, condemning cowardice; Indra is urged to join in restraining the formidable being. The composition should feel like a martial pep-talk before battle.

Characters & Entities

• Vāsava (Indra)
• Devas
• Vīras (heroes)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Heroism is measured by fearless duty and self-sacrifice, yet true valor also includes restraining destructive excess.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.