Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

सामान्यं याचितं न्यासमाधिर्दाराश्च दर्शनम् । अन्वाहितं च निक्षेपः सर्वस्वं चान्वये सति

Transliteration

sāmānyaṃ yācitaṃ nyāsamādhirdārāśca darśanam | anvāhitaṃ ca nikṣepaḥ sarvasvaṃ cānvaye sati

Translation

Les biens communs, ce qui est obtenu par sollicitation, les dépôts, les gages, l’épouse, et même ce qui est tenu en fidéicommis ou gardé en dépôt—oui, l’ensemble des biens lorsqu’il existe des héritiers—ne doivent pas être donnés en dāna.

Word by Word

• सामान्यम्: a common (deposit/pledge)
• सामान्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• याचितम्: a requested (loan)
• याचितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त, √याच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (requested/borrowed)

• न्यासमाधिः: deposit and pledge (two kinds)
• न्यासमाधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास-माधि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (न्यासः च माधिः च)

• दाराः: wife/wives
• दाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दर्शनम्: appearance/meeting (for viewing)
• दर्शनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अन्वाहितम्: property entrusted/handed over (in trust)
• अन्वाहितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त, √वह् with anu-ā-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निक्षेपः: deposit/placing in custody
• निक्षेपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वस्वम्: one's entire property
• सर्वस्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्वये: in the lineage/when heirs exist
• अन्वये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सति: when (it) exists/being present
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शतृ, √अस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājan (King)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A donor stands before a brāhmaṇa with various items labeled as ‘deposit’, ‘pledge’, ‘common property’; a divine or sage figure gestures ‘do not give’ while pointing to a ledger/scroll of dharma; heirs and family stand behind the donor.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity must be righteous: do not give away what is entrusted, pledged, shared, or owed to heirs.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse lays down ethical limits for dāna.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avoid donating deposits, pledged items, entrusted goods, and property that rightfully belongs to others or heirs.