Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

भीतो भव ब्रह्मकुले न पापे गुरुशासने । ज्ञातिबंधुषु विप्रेषु भार्यासु तनयेषु च

Transliteration

bhīto bhava brahmakule na pāpe guruśāsane | jñātibaṃdhuṣu vipreṣu bhāryāsu tanayeṣu ca

Translation

ब्राह्मण-कुल के विषय में सावधान रहो; पाप के विषय में प्रमाद मत करो; और गुरु के शासन में भययुक्त (विनीत) रहो। कुटुम्बी-बन्धु, विप्र, पत्नी और पुत्रों के प्रति भी सतर्क रहो।

Word by Word

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह्मकुले: in a Brahmin family/lineage
• ब्रह्मकुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (ब्रह्मणः कुलम्)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध निपात (negation particle)

• पापे: in sin/evil
• पापे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• गुरुशासने: in the teacher's discipline/command
• गुरुशासने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (गुरोः शासनम्)

• ज्ञातिबन्धुषु: among relatives and kinsmen
• ज्ञातिबन्धुषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (relatives and friends/kinsmen)

• विप्रेषु: among Brahmins
• विप्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• भार्यासु: among wives
• भार्यासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• तनयेषु: among sons/children
• तनयेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa; likely a preceptor figure)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A householder-seeker stands at a crossroads: on one side a guru with staff and scripture; on another, temptations and familiar faces; above, a symbolic scale weighing pāpa and dharma.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Treat dharma with seriousness: never be careless about sin, honor the guru’s discipline, and act responsibly within family and society.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred site is mentioned; the focus is social and ethical dharma rather than sthala-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it emphasizes obedience to the guru’s śāsana and careful conduct in key relationships.