Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

अत्यालापमतिक्रीडां सर्वदा परिवर्जय

Transliteration

atyālāpamatikrīḍāṃ sarvadā parivarjaya

Translation

Évite toujours l’excès de paroles et l’excès de jeux.

Word by Word

• अत्यालापम्: excessive talk
• अत्यालापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + आलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अत्यधिकः आलापः)

• अतिक्रीडाम्: excessive play/sport
• अतिक्रीडाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अत्यधिकः क्रीडा)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: always)

• परिवर्जय: avoid
• परिवर्जय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Unspecified elder/teacher figure in Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (didactic instruction)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim with finger to lips (mauna) walks in parikramā; nearby, a group engaged in loud games fades into the background; the pilgrim’s mind is shown as a steady lamp flame.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Moderation preserves clarity and purpose; excess in speech and amusement weakens dharma and focus.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; it is a general rule of disciplined living.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a behavioral restraint (niyama) instruction.