Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

अनिंद्याजीवकर्मा च षड्भिर्दाता प्रशस्यते । अनृजुश्चाश्रद्दधानोऽशांतात्मा धृष्टभीरुकः

Transliteration

aniṃdyājīvakarmā ca ṣaḍbhirdātā praśasyate | anṛjuścāśraddadhāno'śāṃtātmā dhṛṣṭabhīrukaḥ

Translation

Le donateur est loué lorsqu’il est pourvu de six qualités—dont celle de gagner sa vie par des moyens irréprochables. Mais celui qui est retors, sans foi, au cœur agité, à la fois effronté et craintif, n’est pas ainsi recommandé.

Word by Word

• अनिन्द्याजीवकर्मा: whose livelihood/occupation is blameless
• अनिन्द्याजीवकर्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier; of दाता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिन्द्य + आजीव + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अनिन्द्यं आजीवकर्म यस्य)

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

• षड्भिः: by/with six
• षड्भिः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करणार्थे ‘by/with six [qualities]’

• दाता: giver
• दाता: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; कर्तरि तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रशस्यते: is praised
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (Passive sense)

• अनृजुः: not straightforward, crooked
• अनृजुः: Visheshana (Qualifier; of दाता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः

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

• अश्रद्दधानः: faithless
• अश्रद्दधानः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + श्रद्धधान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धा + शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययः ‘having faith’ → ‘without faith’

• अशान्तात्मा: of unpeaceful mind
• अशान्तात्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + शान्त + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अशान्तः आत्मा यस्य)

• धृष्टभीरुकः: rash and timid (inconsistent)
• धृष्टभीरुकः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृष्ट + भीरुक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (धृष्टश्च भीरुकश्च)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two contrasting donors: one serene, straightforward, offering from honest earnings; another shadowed figure with restless eyes, half-boastful yet anxious, symbolizing crooked intent; a sage indicates the difference.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity gains true praise when it arises from a blameless livelihood and a sincere, steady inner disposition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches general purāṇic dharma regarding the donor’s character.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; the verse defines ethical qualifications that shape the merit of dāna.