Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

दत्तं लोपयते मूढः श्रूयतां तस्य यो विधिः । शोषयेद्धनदो वित्तं तस्य पापस्य भारत

Transliteration

dattaṃ lopayate mūḍhaḥ śrūyatāṃ tasya yo vidhiḥ | śoṣayeddhanado vittaṃ tasya pāpasya bhārata

Translation

നൽകിയ ദാനം ലോപിപ്പിക്കുന്ന മൂഢന്റെ വിധി കേൾക്കുക; ഹേ ഭാരത, ആ പാപിയുടെ സമ്പത്ത് ധനദനായ കുബേരൻ വറ്റിച്ചുകളയും.

Word by Word

• दत्तम्: what has been given
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (भूतकर्मणि) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; 'given (thing)'

• लोपयते: withdraws/causes to vanish
• लोपयते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लुप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (कारयति-भाव); 'causes to disappear/withdraws'

• मूढः: a fool
• मूढः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः 'let it be heard'

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; 'of that/ his'

• यः: which/who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• विधिः: rule/procedure
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• शोषयेत्: should dry up
• शोषयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आदेश), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग; 'should dry up'

• धनदः: Kubera (giver of wealth)
• धनदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कुबेरः

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• पापस्य: of the sin
• पापस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; 'of the sin'

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Vyāsa (deduced: address 'bhārata' within a Yudhiṣṭhira-oriented dharma discourse)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhārata (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cautionary tableau: a man stealthily removes a donated object or alters a grant; Kubera appears stern, and the man’s granary and coin-chest visibly wither or empty, symbolizing dried wealth.

Characters & Entities

• Dhanada (Kubera)
• Bhārata (addressee)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Revoking a gift is a grave sin that destroys one’s prosperity through karmic retribution.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse functions as universal dharma within the Revā Khaṇḍa setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Do not invalidate gifts already granted; maintain the integrity of dāna.