Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यमदपापिष्ठा महामद्यमदादयः । ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तो हि ना पतित्वा हि माद्यति

Transliteration

aiśvaryamadapāpiṣṭhā mahāmadyamadādayaḥ | aiśvaryamadamatto hi nā patitvā hi mādyati

Translation

L’ivresse du pouvoir est la plus pécheresse ; même les grandes ivresses—comme celle du vin et les autres—lui sont inférieures. Car celui que grise la souveraineté ne redevient pas sobre, même après être tombé dans la ruine.

Word by Word

• aiśvarya-mada-pāpiṣṭhāḥ: most sinful due to the intoxication of power/wealth
• aiśvarya-mada-pāpiṣṭhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऐश्वर्यस्य मदः → ऐश्वर्यमदः; तेन पापिष्ठाः)

• mahā-madya-mada-ādayaḥ: great drunkenness and the like
• mahā-madya-mada-ādayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + madya (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महान् मद्य-मदः; तदादयः = 'and the like')

• aiśvarya-mada-mattaḥ: one intoxicated by power/wealth
• aiśvarya-mada-mattaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऐश्वर्यस्य मदेन मत्तः)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle), अव्यय

• patitvā: having fallen
• patitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; धातुः—पत् (to fall)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• mādyati: becomes intoxicated
• mādyati: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातुः—मद् (to be intoxicated)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative mode)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A crowned ruler on a high throne surrounded by symbols of power (umbrella, chowries) is shown gradually darkened by a smoky aura of mada; below, a fallen crown and broken scepter indicate ruin, yet the intoxication-clinging shadow remains.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Arrogance born of power is a deep spiritual poison; it persists even through downfall unless checked by dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is a general nīti/dharma maxim.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; it is a moral-psychological warning about aiśvarya-mada (power-intoxication).