Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

अप्रस्तावं ब्रुवन्वाक्यं बृहस्पतिरपिध्रुवम् । लभते बुद्ध्यवज्ञानमवमानं च हीनवत्

Transliteration

aprastāvaṃ bruvanvākyaṃ bṛhaspatirapidhruvam | labhate buddhyavajñānamavamānaṃ ca hīnavat

Translation

“Indeed, even Bṛhaspati, if he speaks words out of season, surely meets with disregard for his wisdom and with contempt—like an inferior man.”

Word by Word

• aprastāvam: out of context
• aprastāvam: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a+prastāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (improper/out of context)

• bruvan: (one) speaking
• bruvan: Karta (Doer/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘ब्रुवन्’ = speaking

• vākyaṃ: speech/statement
• vākyaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: even)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (certainly)

• labhate: obtains/incurs
• labhate: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• buddhi-avajñānam: intellectual contempt/disregard
• buddhi-avajñānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + avajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (बुद्धेः अवज्ञा = contempt/disrespect in intellect)

• avamānam: insult
• avamānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avamāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• hīnavat: as (if) inferior
• hīnavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hīnavat (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त; क्रियाविशेषण (like an inferior person)

Speaker

Satyavrata addressing Nandabhadra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nandabhadra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Satyavrata cites Bṛhaspati as exemplar; the scene may include a subtle visionary vignette of Bṛhaspati being ignored when speaking at an inopportune time, underscoring the maxim.

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata
• Nandabhadra
• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truth and wisdom must be delivered with proper timing; otherwise even the greatest teacher is treated with contempt.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced; the verse teaches nīti (ethical conduct) in speech.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it prescribes ethical restraint and discernment in giving instruction.