Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

परिक्षीणान्मित्रबन्धून्स्वामिनं दयितानुगान् । अवमन्य निवृत्तात्मा क्लिष्टवृत्तिः सदा भवेत्

Transliteration

parikṣīṇānmitrabandhūnsvāminaṃ dayitānugān | avamanya nivṛttātmā kliṣṭavṛttiḥ sadā bhavet

Translation

One who, with a turned-away heart, insults weakened friends and relatives, as well as his master and devoted dependents, lives always in a troubled and afflicted condition of life.

Word by Word

• परिक्षीणान्: exhausted/weakened
• परिक्षीणान्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-क्षी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle): ‘परिक्षीण’ (utterly weakened); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मित्रबन्धून्: friends and relatives
• मित्रबन्धून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र-बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः: ‘मित्राः च बन्धवः च’

• स्वामिनम्: master/lord
• स्वामिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दयितानुगान्: followers of the beloved / dear attendants
• दयितानुगान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दयित-अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘दयितस्य अनुगाः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• अवमन्य: having insulted
• अवमन्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘अवमन्य’ (having disrespected)

• निवृत्तात्मा: one with withdrawn mind
• निवृत्तात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्त-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘निवृत्तः आत्मा’ (withdrawn-minded)

• क्लिष्टवृत्तिः: troubled conduct
• क्लिष्टवृत्तिः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्धी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लिष्ट-वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘क्लिष्टा वृत्तिः’ (troubled conduct/state)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण/adverb of time)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: भू (सत्तायाम्)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wealthy figure turning away with disdain from an aged friend and a frail dependent; the atmosphere around him becomes thorny and dark, symbolizing ‘kliṣṭa-vṛtti’ (afflicted livelihood).

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is tested in how one treats the vulnerable and dependent; contempt hardens the heart and returns as continual distress.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred geography is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it teaches relational dharma—respect, gratitude, and care toward the weakened and dependent.