Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 123

Devanagari script

उपासीत यथान्यायं नैनां जह्यादनापदि । वर्जयेदनृतं चासत्प्रलापं परुषं तथा

Transliteration

upāsīta yathānyāyaṃ naināṃ jahyādanāpadi | varjayedanṛtaṃ cāsatpralāpaṃ paruṣaṃ tathā

Translation

One should perform it according to proper rule and not abandon it when there is no emergency. One should also avoid falsehood, idle and untrue talk, and harsh speech.

Word by Word

• upāsīta: should worship
• upāsīta: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ās (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• yathā-nyāyam: according to proper rule
• yathā-nyāyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial: according to rule)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation)

• enām: this (sandhyā)
• enām: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• jahyāt: should abandon
• jahyāt: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• an-āpadi: in non-emergency
• an-āpadi: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नञ्-समासपूर्वपद (an-)

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj/varj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• anṛtam: falsehood
• anṛtam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• asat-pralāpam: idle/false talk
• asat-pralāpam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + pralāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (असत्-प्रलापः = improper talk)

• paruṣam: harsh speech
• paruṣam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (कठोरवचनम् इत्यर्थे)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनुक्रमार्थक-अव्ययम् (also/likewise)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Kingly addressee implied

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee performing sandhyā with a small rule-book/palm-leaf nearby; behind, a subtle vignette of the same person refusing to engage in gossip and speaking gently to others.

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā (implied)
• Satya
• Vāk (speech ethics)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is preserved through consistency in daily worship and purity of speech—truth, restraint, and gentleness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No location is referenced; it is a normative teaching on conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform sandhyā according to rule and do not omit it without genuine necessity; additionally, practice verbal discipline by avoiding false and harsh speech.