Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

अवज्ञां कुरुते नित्यं नारदस्य महात्मनः । रतक्रीडा स वै नित्यं रूपयौवनगर्वितः

Transliteration

avajñāṃ kurute nityaṃ nāradasya mahātmanaḥ | ratakrīḍā sa vai nityaṃ rūpayauvanagarvitaḥ

Translation

He continually showed contempt for the great-souled Nārada. Ever absorbed in amorous sport, he remained intoxicated with pride in his beauty and youth.

Word by Word

• अवज्ञाम्: disrespect, contempt
• अवज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कुरुते: does, shows
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Temporal adverb/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• नारदस्य: of Nārada
• नारदस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (sage)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘नारदस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रतक्रीडः: sporting in pleasure
• रतक्रीडः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘रते क्रीडः’ (one who plays in sensual pleasure)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/एवकारार्थक (indeed)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Temporal adverb/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रूपयौवनगर्वितः: proud of (his) beauty and youth
• रूपयौवनगर्वितः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘रूपेण यौवनेन च गर्वितः’ (proud of beauty and youth)

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva) (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A proud, handsome youth absorbed in amorous play, turning away with disdain as the sage Nārada—vīṇā in hand—witnesses the impropriety with grave compassion.

Characters & Entities

• Sāmba
• Nārada

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Lack of self-restraint and pride in transient attributes (youth, beauty) breeds contempt for holiness, leading to karmic correction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within Prabhāsa Kṣetra’s Māhātmya framework, which ultimately channels the story toward pilgrimage, penance, and restoration.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it emphasizes inner discipline and respect as prerequisites for receiving sacred merit.