Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51
Devanagari script
कर्मक्रूराश्च ते सर्वे तथैवोदरिणस्तु ते । लंबकर्णा महादंष्ट्रा द्विजा धनपरायणाः
Transliteration
karmakrūrāśca te sarve tathaivodariṇastu te | laṃbakarṇā mahādaṃṣṭrā dvijā dhanaparāyaṇāḥ
Translation
彼らは皆、行いが苛烈で、また腹は大きい。耳は長く牙は大きく、かのドヴィジャたちは財にのみ心を寄せる。
Word by Word
कर्मक्रूराःharsh in their actions
कर्मक्रूराः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootkarma + krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (karmaṇi krūrāḥ / karmasu krūrāḥ)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
तेthey/those
ते:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)
तथाthus, likewise
तथा:
Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formरीति-अव्यय (adverb: manner)
एवindeed, just
एव:
Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle of emphasis)
उदरिणःbig-bellied, pot-bellied
उदरिणः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootudarin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (adversative/contrast particle)
तेthey/those
ते:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)
लम्बकर्णाःlong-eared
लम्बकर्णाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootlamba + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—कर्मधारय
महादंष्ट्राःhaving large tusks/teeth
महादंष्ट्राः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahā + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—कर्मधारय
द्विजाःtwice-born (Brahmins)
द्विजाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)
धनपरायणाःdevoted to wealth
धनपरायणाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootdhana + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (dhane parāyaṇāḥ)
Speaker
Unspecified (narrator addressing a king within Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa context)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A moral allegory: brāhmaṇas with distorted features symbolizing inner vices—harshness, gluttony, greed—contrasted with a serene dharmic sage in the background.
Characters & Entities
D
Dhana (wealth)FAQs
Greed and harsh conduct are condemned as signs of dharmic decline, regardless of social status.
No tīrtha is referenced; this is a moral characterization.
None; the verse functions as ethical censure rather than ritual instruction.