Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 106

Devanagari script

नोदर्कशालिनी बुद्धिर्येषामविजितात्मनाम् । तैः श्रियश्चपला वाच्यं नीयंते मादृशैर्जनैः

Transliteration

nodarkaśālinī buddhiryeṣāmavijitātmanām | taiḥ śriyaścapalā vācyaṃ nīyaṃte mādṛśairjanaiḥ

Translation

Ceux qui n’ont pas vaincu leur propre être ne possèdent pas une intelligence lucide et clairvoyante. Par de tels hommes, la prospérité changeante est inévitablement emportée—comme il advint à des gens tels que moi.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• उदर्क-शालिनी: possessing foresight (regard for consequences)
• उदर्क-शालिनी: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन्/शालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उदर्कस्य शालिनी)

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• येषाम्: of whom
• येषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे

• अविजित-आत्मनाम्: of those who have not conquered themselves
• अविजित-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविजित (प्रातिपदिक; √जि + वि + क्त with अ-निषेध) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अविजितः आत्मा येषाम्)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• श्रियः: fortunes
• श्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• चपलाः: fickle
• चपलाः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (श्रियः)

• वाच्यम्: to be called/said
• वाच्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘to be spoken/said’ (here: ‘to be called’)

• नीयन्ते: are led/are carried away
• नीयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मादृशैः: by people like me
• मादृशैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; ‘like me/us’

• जनैः: by people
• जनैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (reflective voice; self-reference indicates a character lamenting loss of fortune)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A chariot allegory: the uncontrolled self is a chariot with unbridled horses veering off; prosperity personified as a fickle goddess slips away. The disciplined self holds reins firmly, gaze steady toward a distant goal.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Without self-mastery, intelligence fails to foresee consequences, and prosperity—by nature unstable—slips away.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it stresses inner conquest (self-control) as the true safeguard.