Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 108

Devanagari script

दारिद्र्यं पातकं लोके कस्तच्छंसितुमर्हति । पतितः शोच्यते सर्वैर्निर्धनश्चापि शोच्यते

Transliteration

dāridryaṃ pātakaṃ loke kastacchaṃsitumarhati | patitaḥ śocyate sarvairnirdhanaścāpi śocyate

Translation

Dans le monde, la pauvreté est tenue pour un péché—qui pourrait louer pareille chose ? Les déchus sont plaints de tous, et les démunis aussi sont plaints.

Word by Word

• दारिद्र्यम्: poverty
• दारिद्र्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारिद्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पातकम्: a sin
• पातकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th) अधिकरण, एकवचन

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) कर्म, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंसितुम्: to praise
• शंसितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तुमुन्-अन्त, infinitive), कर्मप्रवचनीय; 'शंसितुम्' = to praise/commend

• अर्हति: is fit/deserves
• अर्हति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पतितः: a fallen person
• पतितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (प्रातिपदिक; √पत् + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संज्ञावत् (one who has fallen)

• शोच्यते: is lamented/pitied
• शोच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd) करण, बहुवचन; कर्तृ-कारक (by all)

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थ-निपात (also/even)

• शोच्यते: is lamented/pitied
• शोच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two figures—one ‘fallen’ and one ‘destitute’—both receiving compassionate attention; the verse critiques the crowd’s tendency to label poverty as ‘pātaka’.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It underlines poverty as a grave human suffering and exposes how society equates it with blame, calling for more humane dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is stated; the implied duty is charitable support and compassionate conduct.