Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

स्वदारनिरतैः श्लक्ष्णैः परदारविवर्जितैः । षट्कर्मनिरतैस्तात शूद्रप्रेषणवर्जितैः

Transliteration

svadāranirataiḥ ślakṣṇaiḥ paradāravivarjitaiḥ | ṣaṭkarmanirataistāta śūdrapreṣaṇavarjitaiḥ

Translation

…par ceux qui sont attachés à leur propre épouse, d’une conduite douce, exempts de relations avec l’épouse d’autrui; appliqués aux six devoirs, ô bien-aimé, et n’employant pas de Śūdra comme serviteur personnel.

Word by Word

• स्वदारनिरतैः: by those devoted to their own wives
• स्वदारनिरतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-दार-निरत (प्रातिपदिक; स्व=स्वकीय + दार=पत्नी + निरत=आसक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (instrumental plural masc.)

• श्लक्ष्णैः: by the gentle/refined (ones)
• श्लक्ष्णैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• परदारविवर्जितैः: by those who avoid others’ wives
• परदारविवर्जितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-दार-विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; पर=अन्य + दार=पत्नी + विवर्जित=वर्जित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• षट्कर्मनिरतैः: by those engaged in the six duties
• षट्कर्मनिरतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट्-कर्म-निरत (प्रातिपदिक; षट्=षड् + कर्म + निरत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• तात: O dear (son)
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन) एकवचनम्; संबोधन-शब्दः

• शूद्रप्रेषणवर्जितैः: by those who avoid sending/ordering (others) as Śūdras (i.e., avoid Śūdra-servitude)
• शूद्रप्रेषणवर्जितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूद्र-प्रेषण-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; शूद्र + प्रेषण=प्रेरण/सेवा-नियोजन + वर्जित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (context continues)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tīrtha-side ritual pavilion where disciplined householders prepare offerings; the officiant gestures toward a code of conduct, while the riverbank and lamps frame the scene.

Characters & Entities

• Ṣaṭkarman
• Śrāddha (context)
• Brāhmaṇa (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual efficacy is linked to moral discipline—purity of conduct is presented as essential for śrāddha and dharmic rites.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse continues the Revā/Narmadā tīrtha narrative, detailing proper performance of śrāddha there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Select officiants of upright conduct—faithful, gentle, committed to ṣaṭkarman—when performing śrāddha.