Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

प्राणाधिकं भैमसेनिं कथं केवलसाहसात् । क्षिपेयं तव वाक्यानां शुद्धानां चाथ कोविदम्

Transliteration

prāṇādhikaṃ bhaimaseniṃ kathaṃ kevalasāhasāt | kṣipeyaṃ tava vākyānāṃ śuddhānāṃ cātha kovidam

Translation

How could I, by mere rash daring, cast aside Bhīmasena—dearer than life? And how could I dismiss your words, which are pure and wise?

Word by Word

• प्राणाधिकम्: more dear than life
• प्राणाधिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राणाधिक (प्रातिपदिक; प्राण + अधिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैमसेनिम्)

• भैमसेनिम्: Bhīma (son of Bhīmasena)
• भैमसेनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैमसेनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (Interrogative adverb/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: how)

• केवलसाहसात्: from mere rashness
• केवलसाहसात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केवल-साहस (प्रातिपदिक; केवल + साहस)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• क्षिपेयम्: should I cast away
• क्षिपेयम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (लिङ्ग-अनिश्चित)

• वाक्यानाम्: of (your) words
• वाक्यानाम्: Sambandha (Of words/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शुद्धानाम्: pure; faultless
• शुद्धानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण (वाक्यानाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• अथ: then; moreover
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गार्थक (particle: then/now)

• कोविदम्: skilled; wise
• कोविदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैमसेनिम्)

Speaker

Narrative voice (speaker not named in verse; respondent addressing a counselor)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful exchange: the speaker torn between affection for Bhīma and reverence for Kṛṣṇa’s wise words; Bhīma present as a strong, beloved figure; Kṛṣṇa calm, advising.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīmasena

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma honors both loyalty to loved ones and reverence for wise, pure counsel; rashness is condemned.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a statement of ethical restraint and respect for wisdom.