Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

धर्मकर्म महाराज स्वयं विद्वान्समाचरेत् । शरीरस्याथवा शक्त्या अन्यद्वा कार्ययोगतः

Transliteration

dharmakarma mahārāja svayaṃ vidvānsamācaret | śarīrasyāthavā śaktyā anyadvā kāryayogataḥ

Translation

ഹേ മഹാരാജാ, ജ്ഞാനിയായവൻ സ്വയം ധർമ്മകർമ്മങ്ങൾ ആചരിക്കണം—ശരീരശക്തിയനുസരിച്ച്; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ യുക്തമായ ഉപായങ്ങളാൽ അവ പൂർത്തിയാക്കിക്കൊള്ളണം.

Word by Word

• धर्मकर्म: religious duty and ritual act
• धर्मकर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: oneself)

• विद्वान्: a learned man
• विद्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (learned person)

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शरीरस्य: of the body
• शरीरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-समुच्चय (disjunctive: or)

• शक्त्या: by (one's) ability
• शक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणवाचक

• अन्यत्: something else
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सन्दर्भे कर्मत्वे अधिकम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• कार्ययोगतः: according to what is feasible/appropriate
• कार्ययोगतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त: -तः); तत्पुरुषसमासः (कार्यस्य योगः) ; हेत्वर्थे/निमित्ते (because of suitability/connection)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) tirtha-zone (contextual)

Type: river

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (addressed as Mahārāja)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king receives calm instruction from a sage on performing dharma personally, with attendants arranging offerings when the body is weak; a river-tirtha ambience suggests Revā’s banks.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is to be practiced responsibly: ideally personally, yet always aligned with one’s capacity, with alternatives allowed through proper arrangements.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; it lays down a general dharma principle relevant to pilgrimage and other meritorious acts.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform dharmic rites personally when possible; otherwise ensure their completion through appropriate delegation/arrangement consistent with one’s means.