Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

नित्यं पापानि कुरुते नरः सूक्ष्माणि सर्वतः । प्रायश्चित्तानि सर्वेषां कर्तुं शक्तिः कथं भवेत्

Transliteration

nityaṃ pāpāni kurute naraḥ sūkṣmāṇi sarvataḥ | prāyaścittāni sarveṣāṃ kartuṃ śaktiḥ kathaṃ bhavet

Translation

A person constantly commits subtle faults on every side; how could one possibly have the capacity to perform prāyaścitta (expiations) for them all?

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (क्रियाविशेषण), adverbial accusative

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• कुरुते: does/commits
• कुरुते: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• सूक्ष्माणि: subtle
• सूक्ष्माणि: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पापानि इति विशेषणम्

• सर्वतः: from all sides/altogether
• सर्वतः: Desha (Place/Direction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘from all sides/entirely’

• प्रायश्चित्तानि: expiations
• प्रायश्चित्तानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: for all (of them)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; पापानाम् (अध्याहृत) इति सम्बन्धः

• कर्तुम्: to perform
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to do/perform’

• शक्तिः: ability
• शक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• भवेत्: could be/should be possible
• भवेत्: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Rohitāśva (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A reflective moment: the speaker contemplates the endless subtle faults of human life; the sage listens with compassionate stillness, suggesting an impending ‘easy’ remedy.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Human life inevitably accumulates subtle faults, so dharma offers accessible, comprehensive remedies rather than impossible perfectionism.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it frames the need for an effective, doable dharmic observance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It does not prescribe a rite directly; it highlights the impracticality of performing separate prāyaścittas for countless subtle sins.