Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

विपरीतो यदा कालः पुरुषस्य भवेत्तदा । भूतमैत्रीं प्रकुर्वंति सर्वकार्यार्थसिद्धये

Transliteration

viparīto yadā kālaḥ puruṣasya bhavettadā | bhūtamaitrīṃ prakurvaṃti sarvakāryārthasiddhaye

Translation

Quand le temps devient contraire à un homme, alors, pour accomplir toute entreprise, on va jusqu’à cultiver l’amitié avec d’anciens ennemis.

Word by Word

• विपरीतः: adverse
• विपरीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — ‘adverse’ (qualifying कालः)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: ‘when’)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — ‘time’

• पुरुषस्य: of a person
• पुरुषस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — ‘of a man/person’

• भवेत्: becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘may be/should become’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb: ‘then’)

• भूत-मैत्रीम्: friendship with beings
• भूत-मैत्रीम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + मैत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भूतानां मैत्री) — ‘friendship with beings’

• प्रकुर्वन्ति: they undertake
• प्रकुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘they do/undertake’

• सर्व-कार्य-अर्थ-सिद्धये: for success in all undertakings
• सर्व-कार्य-अर्थ-सिद्धये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास — ‘for the accomplishment of the purposes of all tasks’

Speaker

Śrī Bhagavān (Viṣṇu)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devas/assembly (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A reflective maxim is spoken: in adverse times, people cultivate friendship even with former enemies to accomplish goals.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Bhagavān (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In adverse times, one should act with discernment and flexibility, choosing actions that restore order and serve the greater good.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is directly mentioned; the verse offers nīti within the Kedārakhaṇḍa storyline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is guidance on prudent conduct under changing circumstances.