Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 143

Devanagari script

आत्मयूथवियोगश्च वने च नयनादिकम् । दुर्भिक्षं दुर्भगत्वं च मूर्खत्वं च दरिद्रता

Transliteration

ātmayūthaviyogaśca vane ca nayanādikam | durbhikṣaṃ durbhagatvaṃ ca mūrkhatvaṃ ca daridratā

Translation

There is separation from one’s own herd, and in the forest the loss of eyes and other limbs. There is famine, misfortune, stupidity, and poverty as well.

Word by Word

• ātma: one’s own
• ātma: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (of one’s own; stem in compound)

• yūtha: group/companions
• yūtha: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yūtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (group/herd; stem in compound)

• viyogaḥ: separation
• viyogaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (separation)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थे conjunction)

• ātmayūthaviyogaḥ: separation from one’s own group
• ātmayūthaviyogaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma+yūtha+viyoga (प्रातिपदिकसमूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ātmanāṃ yūthasya viyogaḥ)

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (in the forest)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थे)

• nayana: leading/being taken
• nayana: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (leading/bringing; or eye; here likely “leading/being led”; stem in compound)

• ādi: etc.
• ādi: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (आद्यार्थे “etc.”)

• -kam: a set of such things
• -kam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: -ka (प्रत्यय; तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहारार्थक (collective “and such”)

• nayanādikam: being led away, etc.
• nayanādikam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nayana+ādi+ka (प्रातिपदिकसमूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-तत्पुरुष (nayana-ādi-viṣayāṇām samūhaḥ)

• durbhikṣam: famine
• durbhikṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durbhikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (famine)

• durbhagatvam: misfortune
• durbhagatvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durbhagatva (प्रातिपदिक; dur+bhaga+tva)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (state of misfortune)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थे)

• mūrkhatvam: foolishness
• mūrkhatvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrkhatva (प्रातिपदिक; mūrkha+tva)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (foolishness)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थे)

• daridratā: poverty
• daridratā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daridratā (प्रातिपदिक; daridra+tā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाववाचक (poverty)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A lonely being separated from its herd; a forest scene with hazards leading to loss of eyes/limbs (symbolic injury); background shows cracked earth of famine; figures representing poverty and ignorance as shadowy attendants.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly life is unstable—marked by loss, scarcity, and misfortune—so one should seek steadiness in dharma and spiritual realization.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.