Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 19
Devanagari script
एवमुक्ता ह्युवाचेदं स्मयमाना बलिं प्रति । स्त्रीणां नैव च विश्वासः कर्तव्यो हि विपश्चिता
Transliteration
evamuktā hyuvācedaṃ smayamānā baliṃ prati | strīṇāṃ naiva ca viśvāsaḥ kartavyo hi vipaścitā
Translation
Ainsi interpellée, elle répondit en souriant à Bali : « En vérité, le sage ne doit pas mettre sa confiance dans les femmes. »
Word by Word
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक-अव्यय; manner adverb
उक्ताhaving been addressed/spoken to
उक्ता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootवच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle
हिindeed/for
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (हेतौ/निश्चये); particle
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karman (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of ‘said’)
स्मयमानाsmiling
स्मयमाना:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्मि (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शानच्-प्रत्यय (present active participle, आत्मनेपद-पर), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
बलिम्Bali
बलिम्:
Adhikarana (Reference/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootबलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular
प्रतिtowards
प्रति:
Dik/Pratiyogi (Direction/प्रति)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रति (अव्यय)
Formउपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय; preposition meaning ‘towards/with regard to’
स्त्रीणाम्of women
स्त्रीणाम्:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural
नnot
न:
Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात; negation particle
एवindeed/at all
एव:
Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपात; emphatic particle
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-निपात; conjunction
विश्वासःtrust
विश्वासः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular
कर्तव्यःshould be placed/done
कर्तव्यः:
Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
Formतव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधेय/कर्तव्यता (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be done’ (predicate)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात; particle
विपश्चिताa wise woman/person
विपश्चिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (speaker/wise woman)
Speaker
Mohinī (Viṣṇu in disguise)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Skanda Dialogue
Listener: Interlocutor/pilgrim audience (unspecified)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: The woman smiles knowingly at Bali, delivering a sharp, paradoxical maxim; Bali and the Daityas appear momentarily uncertain, caught between desire and caution.
Characters & Entities
M
MohinīB
BaliV
Viṣṇu (implied)FAQs
The verse underscores discernment: do not be swayed by appearances; māyā tests judgment and self-control.
No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.
None.