Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 110

Devanagari script

असत्यभाषी दम्भीच सदा धर्मध्वजी खलः । लोभी दुरात्मा कथको न कर्ता कर्हिचित्क्वचित्

Transliteration

asatyabhāṣī dambhīca sadā dharmadhvajī khalaḥ | lobhī durātmā kathako na kartā karhicitkvacit

Translation

I was a liar and a hypocrite—ever a rogue who carried the banner of “dharma.” Greedy and evil-minded, I was only a preacher of words, never a doer—at any time, anywhere.

Word by Word

• असत्यभाषी: one who speaks untruth
• असत्यभाषी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत्य-भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक; असत्य + भाषिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• दम्भी: hypocritical, deceitful
• दम्भी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम्भिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• धर्मध्वजी: one who bears the banner of dharma (pretender)
• धर्मध्वजी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-ध्वजिन् (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + ध्वजिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• खलः: a wicked man
• खलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• लोभी: greedy
• लोभी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• दुरात्मा: evil-souled person
• दुरात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• कथकः: a storyteller/reciter
• कथकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• कर्ता: a doer (one who acts)
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• कर्हिचित्: ever, at any time
• कर्हिचित्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्हि-चित् (अव्यय; कर्हि + चित्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite temporal adverb)

• क्वचित्: anywhere, somewhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व-चित् (अव्यय; क्व + चित्)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite locative adverb)

Speaker

A repentant sinner (self-confession narrative; specific name not in snippet)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A remorseful preacher stands with a ‘dharma-banner’ and scripture in hand, yet behind him lie symbols of greed (coins) and deceit (mask); his face shows shame as he confesses his duplicity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma must be lived, not merely displayed; hypocrisy and greed hollow out religious life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it emphasizes ethical practice over performative religiosity.