Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 126

Devanagari script

जलमग्निं च निनयेद्यगपन्न विचक्षणः

Transliteration

jalamagniṃ ca ninayedyagapanna vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

分別ある者は、軽率に水を火に触れさせてはならず、また乱雑で不適切な振る舞いをしてはならない。

Word by Word

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ninayet: should lead/should take
• ninayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (नीञ्, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

• yagapannaḥ: one who has fallen into a wrong course / misguided
• yagapannaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yagapanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• vicakṣaṇaḥ: a discerning person
• vicakṣaṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An āśrama or temple courtyard: a sacred fire-altar with priests; a careful devotee keeps water vessels at a respectful distance, moving with composed restraint while others watch in reverent silence.

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Mindful discipline in small acts preserves sacred order; carelessness toward agni and conduct is treated as a lapse in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse is a general rule of conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Maintain proper decorum around fire (agni), avoiding improper actions that disturb ritual purity.