Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 98

Devanagari script

वधबंधपरिक्लेशाः पुत्रदारादि पंचता । पापिनामपि दृश्यंते तस्माद्धर्मो गुरुर्मतः

Transliteration

vadhabaṃdhaparikleśāḥ putradārādi paṃcatā | pāpināmapi dṛśyaṃte tasmāddharmo gururmataḥ

Translation

Killing, imprisonment, and afflictions—and the “fivefold” calamities connected with sons, wife, and the rest—are seen even among sinners. Therefore dharma is regarded as the true teacher and guide.

Word by Word

• वध: killing, slaughter
• वध: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• बन्ध: bondage, imprisonment
• बन्ध: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• परिक्लेशाः: afflictions, torments
• परिक्लेशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिक्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः: वध-बन्ध-परिक्लेश (समाहार/सूची-तत्पुरुष)

• पुत्र: son
• पुत्र: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• दार: wife/wives
• दार: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (बहुवचनान्त-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• आदि: etc., and so on
• आदि: Qualifier (विशेषण/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समासे ‘आदि’ = ‘and the like’ (समुच्चयार्थ)

• पंचता: the state of being five; fivefold set
• पंचता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंचता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘पञ्च’ संख्याया भावः (पञ्चत्वम्)

• पापिनाम्: of sinners
• पापिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (‘even/also’)

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen, are observed
• दृश्यन्ते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गुरुः: heavy; important; venerable
• गुरुः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• मतः: considered, regarded
• मतः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मत’ = ‘considered/held’

Speaker

Nandabhadra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic scene: a teacher-like speaker points to examples of worldly punishments and family-related calamities, concluding that dharma is the true guide; listeners appear contemplative and chastened.

Characters & Entities

• Nandabhadra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Since suffering is common to all, dharma—not mere pursuit of pleasure—should be taken as the guiding authority.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it offers a doctrinal conclusion: treat dharma as guru.