Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 110

Devanagari script

असत्यभाषी दम्भीच सदा धर्मध्वजी खलः । लोभी दुरात्मा कथको न कर्ता कर्हिचित्क्वचित्

Transliteration

asatyabhāṣī dambhīca sadā dharmadhvajī khalaḥ | lobhī durātmā kathako na kartā karhicitkvacit

Translation

मैं असत्य बोलने वाला और दम्भी था—सदा ‘धर्म’ का ध्वज उठाए हुआ दुष्ट। लोभी और दुरात्मा, मैं केवल वाणी का उपदेशक था, कभी कहीं कर्म करने वाला नहीं।

Word by Word

• असत्यभाषी: one who speaks untruth
• असत्यभाषी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत्य-भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक; असत्य + भाषिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• दम्भी: hypocritical, deceitful
• दम्भी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम्भिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

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

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• धर्मध्वजी: one who bears the banner of dharma (pretender)
• धर्मध्वजी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-ध्वजिन् (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + ध्वजिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• खलः: a wicked man
• खलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• लोभी: greedy
• लोभी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• दुरात्मा: evil-souled person
• दुरात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• कथकः: a storyteller/reciter
• कथकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• कर्ता: a doer (one who acts)
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)

• कर्हिचित्: ever, at any time
• कर्हिचित्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्हि-चित् (अव्यय; कर्हि + चित्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite temporal adverb)

• क्वचित्: anywhere, somewhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व-चित् (अव्यय; क्व + चित्)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite locative adverb)

Speaker

A repentant sinner (self-confession narrative; specific name not in snippet)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A remorseful preacher stands with a ‘dharma-banner’ and scripture in hand, yet behind him lie symbols of greed (coins) and deceit (mask); his face shows shame as he confesses his duplicity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma must be lived, not merely displayed; hypocrisy and greed hollow out religious life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it emphasizes ethical practice over performative religiosity.