Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 96

Devanagari script

जराभिभूतःपुरुषः पत्नीपुत्रादिबांधवैः । अशक्तत्वाद्दुराचारैर्भृत्यैश्च परिभूयते

Transliteration

jarābhibhūtaḥpuruṣaḥ patnīputrādibāṃdhavaiḥ | aśaktatvāddurācārairbhṛtyaiśca paribhūyate

Translation

L’homme accablé par la vieillesse, à cause de son impuissance, est méprisé et opprimé par son épouse, ses fils et ses proches; et même par des serviteurs de mauvaise conduite.

Word by Word

• जराभिभूतः: overcome by old age
• जराभिभूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरā (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-√भू (धातु) → अभिभूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), उपसर्गः अभि-; विशेषणम्

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पत्नीपुत्रादिबान्धवैः: by relatives such as wife and sons
• पत्नीपुत्रादिबान्धवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—पत्नीपुत्रादयः ये बान्धवाः तैः (सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष)

• अशक्तत्वात्: due to incapacity
• अशक्तत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित) → अशक्तत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• दुराचारैः: by ill-conducted (people)
• दुराचारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुराचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• भृत्यैः: by servants
• भृत्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

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

• परिभूयते: is insulted/overpowered
• परिभूयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An aged man, bent and frail, sits neglected in a household courtyard while wife, sons, relatives, and servants turn away; the atmosphere conveys human ingratitude and the poignancy of decline.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It warns that worldly supports can fail; thus one should invest in dharma and inner strength rather than relying solely on social bonds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it functions as a cautionary teaching to prioritize dharma before incapacity arises.