Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 100

Devanagari script

शाकेनाऽपि दरिद्रोऽसावंत्यजत्वमुपेष्यति । आसनं शयनं भोज्यं स्पर्शं संभाषणं तथा

Transliteration

śākenā'pi daridro'sāvaṃtyajatvamupeṣyati | āsanaṃ śayanaṃ bhojyaṃ sparśaṃ saṃbhāṣaṇaṃ tathā

Translation

«Fût-il pauvre, même avec de simples légumes il aurait pu l’accomplir ; cet homme tombera dans l’état d’exclu (outcaste). (On lui refusera) siège, couche, nourriture, contact, et même la parole.»

Word by Word

• शाकेन: with vegetables / by (offering) greens
• शाकेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd); एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Nipāta (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (even)

• दरिद्रः: a poor man
• दरिद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• असौ: that (person)
• असौ: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अन्त्यजत्वम्: the state of being an outcaste
• अन्त्यजत्वम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (state of being an antyaja)

• उपेष्यति: will attain / will come to
• उपेष्यति: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप- + इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आसनम्: seat
• आसनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• शयनम्: bed / lying place
• शयनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• भोज्यम्: food
• भोज्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-योग्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘भुज्’ धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (edible/food)

• स्पर्शम्: touch
• स्पर्शम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• संभाषणम्: conversation
• संभाषणम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्- + भाष् (धातु) + अन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्रियानाम (conversation)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Samucchaya/Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (likewise/also)

Speaker

Brahmā (warning about social and dharmic consequences)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pitṛs / audience of the tīrtha-māhātmya narration

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A poor householder with a small leaf-plate of simple vegetables stands hesitant before a śrāddha setting; in the background, society turns away—seat, bed, food, touch, and speech withheld—while unseen Pitṛs appear faint and unsatisfied.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma emphasizes sincerity over wealth: even a minimal offering can fulfill duty, while refusal brings moral and social downfall.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the verse stresses śrāddha obligation and its societal ramifications.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śrāddha can be done even with a very simple offering (śāka); neglect is condemned and said to lead to loss of social acceptance.