Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 74

Devanagari script

अदृष्टं परमं धर्म्यं विधिना परमेण हि । कर्तव्यं मनसा चैवं पुरुषेण विजानता

Transliteration

adṛṣṭaṃ paramaṃ dharmyaṃ vidhinā parameṇa hi | kartavyaṃ manasā caivaṃ puruṣeṇa vijānatā

Translation

«En vérité, la voie la plus haute du dharma—même si ses fruits demeurent invisibles—doit être suivie selon la règle suprême ; ainsi l’homme clairvoyant doit-il se déterminer en son esprit et agir.»

Word by Word

• adṛṣṭam: unseen; not directly perceived
• adṛṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √dṛś (धातु) + क्त, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• dharmyam: righteous; in accordance with dharma
• dharmyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• vidhinā: by the prescribed rule; by proper procedure
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, instrumental singular)

• parameṇa: supreme; highest
• parameṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of vidhinā/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, instrumental singular)

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय/हेतौ (indeed/for)

• kartavyam: should be done; must be done
• kartavyam: Kriyā (Obligation predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kartavya (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (धातु) + तव्यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (gerundive; neuter nom/acc sg)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, instrumental singular)

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

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारार्थक (thus/in this manner)

• puruṣeṇa: by a person
• puruṣeṇa: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, instrumental singular)

• vijānatā: knowing; understanding
• vijānatā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of puruṣeṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (present active participle; masculine instrumental singular)

Speaker

Śakra (Indra) (continuing his reflection)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative figure in Himalayan stillness, hands in añjali or holding a palm-leaf text, resolving to follow dharma by vidhi despite unseen results; faint divine light suggests adṛṣṭa-phala.

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa (the discerning person)
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma is followed even when results are unseen; inner resolve aligned with sacred rule is essential.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None explicitly; the Kedāra framework supports dharma instruction connected to pilgrimage ethos.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual; it prescribes adherence to parama-vidhi (highest rule of conduct).