Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

ये चैवाश्लक्ष्णया वाचा तर्जयन्ति नराधमाः । वदंति परुषं क्रोधात्पादेन निहनंति च

Transliteration

ye caivāślakṣṇayā vācā tarjayanti narādhamāḥ | vadaṃti paruṣaṃ krodhātpādena nihanaṃti ca

Translation

Ces hommes les plus vils, qui menacent d’une parole rude, qui profèrent des mots cruels sous l’emportement de la colère et vont jusqu’à frapper du pied—

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: 'indeed/just')

• अश्लक्ष्णया: with harsh
• अश्लक्ष्णया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine instrumental singular: 'with harsh/rough')

• वाचा: speech, words
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्/वाचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine instrumental singular)

• तर्जयन्ति: threaten, rebuke
• तर्जयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (present indicative, 3rd plural)

• नराधमाः: the worst of men
• नराधमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नरेषु अधमाः = lowest among men)

• वदन्ति: speak
• वदन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (present indicative, 3rd plural)

• परुषम्: harsh words
• परुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (neuter accusative singular: 'harsh (speech)')

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु (ablative: 'from/out of anger')

• पादेन: with the foot
• पादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrumental: 'with the foot')

• निहनन्ति: strike down, beat
• निहनन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (present indicative, 3rd plural)

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

Speaker

Śiva (continuing the warning sequence)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer (generic)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A moral vignette: an angry man with reddening face threatens and abuses a humble figure; another scene shows the indignity of a kick. The background hints at a sacred precinct, underscoring the contrast between holy place and unholy conduct.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma includes restraint in speech and action; anger-driven insult and assault are spiritually destructive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra, in whose Māhātmya righteous behavior is taught as part of pilgrimage discipline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An ethical restraint accompanying rites like Śrāddha: do not abuse, threaten, or assault—especially those worthy of honor.