Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 135

Devanagari script

म्रियते यदि संग्रामे धातुर्दद्भोऽपयाचितम् । केचिद्युध्यत्सु वीरेषु सृक्किणी संलिहंति च

Transliteration

mriyate yadi saṃgrāme dhāturdadbho'payācitam | kecidyudhyatsu vīreṣu sṛkkiṇī saṃlihaṃti ca

Translation

“Jika ‘penopang’ gugur di medan perang, maka ‘gigi’ tinggal tanpa diminta.” Dan sebagian—ketika para pahlawan masih bertempur—terus menjilat bibir mereka.

Word by Word

• म्रियते: dies
• म्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तबोधक (conditional particle: if)

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धातुः: a constituent / element / (here) a fighter/one of the group
• धातुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दद्भः: Dadbh(a) (name/epithet; uncertain)
• दद्भः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दद्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पाठदुष्कर/दुर्लभ-रूप (uncertain lexeme)

• अपयाचितम्: unasked / not requested
• अपयाचितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप + √याच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (some)

• युध्यत्सु: while (they are) fighting
• युध्यत्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• वीरेषु: among heroes
• वीरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• सृक्किणी: the two corners of the mouth / lips
• सृक्किणी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृक्किणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• संलिहन्ति: lick
• संलिहन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√लिह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A speaker utters a cryptic proverb while nearby figures lick their lips, eyes fixed on the fighting—suggesting ghoulish anticipation; the battlefield continues behind them with fallen ‘supports’ and broken weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Warriors (vīrāḥ)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It criticizes predatory delight in others’ suffering, implying that dharma requires compassion and self-control even amid conflict.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.