Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

ये पापिनो ह्यधर्मिष्ठा लोकसंहारकारकाः । पाषंडवादसंयुक्ता वध्यास्ते मम चैव हि । वाक्यं निशम्य रुद्रस्य श्वेतो वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

ye pāpino hyadharmiṣṭhā lokasaṃhārakārakāḥ | pāṣaṃḍavādasaṃyuktā vadhyāste mama caiva hi | vākyaṃ niśamya rudrasya śveto vacanamabravīt

Translation

Ceux qui sont pécheurs, les plus éloignés du dharma et artisans de la ruine du monde—associés à des doctrines hérétiques et trompeuses—sont, en vérité, dignes d’être mis à mort par moi. Ayant entendu les paroles de Rudra, Śveta répondit.

Word by Word

• ye: who / those who
• ye: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• pāpinaḥ: sinners
• pāpinaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpin (पापिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/Reason)

• adharmiṣṭhāḥ: very unrighteous
• adharmiṣṭhāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adharmiṣṭha (अधर्मिष्ठ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• lokasaṃhārakārakāḥ: causers of world destruction
• lokasaṃhārakārakāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka-saṃhāra-kāraka (लोक-संहार-कारक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• pāṣaṃḍavādasaṃyuktāḥ: associated with heretical arguments
• pāṣaṃḍavādasaṃyuktāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṣaṃḍa-vāda-saṃyukta (पाषंड-वाद-संयुक्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• vadhyāḥ: to be killed / deserving death
• vadhyāḥ: Karma (Object - in passive sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadhya (वध्य)
• Form: Gerundive (Kritya Pratyaya), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• te: they
• te: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• mama: by me / my
• mama: Karta (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (Used as Agent with Gerundive)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: only / surely
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (एव)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis)

• hi: indeed
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle

• vākyam: sentence / speech
• vākyam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: null
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + śam (नि + शम्)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Indeclinable Participle)

• rudrasya: of Rudra
• rudrasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (रुद्र)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• śvetaḥ: Shveta (the sage)
• śvetaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta (श्वेत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• vacanam: words / speech
• vacanam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (वचन)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect Past), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition) with embedded speech attributed to Rudra, followed by Śveta’s response

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rudra speaks sternly, declaring the slaying-worthy nature of world-destroying sinners allied with heretical doctrines; Śveta listens and prepares a measured reply.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Śiva)
• Śveta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma condemns actions and ideologies that harm society; divine and righteous authority restrains world-destroying adharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra, within the Kedārakhaṇḍa narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; the focus is ethical and doctrinal—rejecting adharma that causes social ruin.