Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं मानुष्ये सति दुर्लभम् । ततस्तमुपसंगम्य पर्यपृच्छमहं तदा

Transliteration

ahiṃsā satyamasteyaṃ mānuṣye sati durlabham | tatastamupasaṃgamya paryapṛcchamahaṃ tadā

Translation

アヒンサー（不殺生・不害）、真実、そして不盗は、人の世にあってさえ稀である。ゆえに私は彼に近づき、その時問いかけた。

Word by Word

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अस्तेयम्: non-stealing
• अस्तेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मानुष्ये: in mankind / among humans
• मानुष्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• सति: when (it) exists; being
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: सत्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; सप्तमी एकवचन नपुंसक; ‘सति’ = being/when there is (locative absolute)

• दुर्लभम्: rare, hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपसंगम्य: having approached
• उपसंगम्य: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + उप + सम् (उपसर्ग) + य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having approached’

• पर्यपृच्छम्: I asked
• पर्यपृच्छम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvara Khaṇḍa narrative frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bhṛgu, recognizing rare virtues, steps toward an ascetic with respectful posture, hands folded, preparing to ask questions.

Characters & Entities

• ahiṃsā
• satya
• asteya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Foundational dharma—ahiṃsā, satya, and asteya—is rare; seeking guidance from saints is the proper response.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; the teaching is framed within a sacred encounter near a tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No external ritual; it underscores ethical vows (ahiṃsā, satya, asteya) as practical spiritual discipline.