Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

क्षात्रधर्मरतोऽपि त्वं वृथा हिंसां परित्यज । शुष्कवैरं वृथालापं परनिदां च वर्जय

Transliteration

kṣātradharmarato'pi tvaṃ vṛthā hiṃsāṃ parityaja | śuṣkavairaṃ vṛthālāpaṃ paranidāṃ ca varjaya

Translation

നീ ക്ഷാത്രധർമ്മത്തിൽ നിരതനായാലും വ്യർഥഹിംസ ഉപേക്ഷിക്ക; ഫലമില്ലാത്ത വൈരം, വെറുതെ വാക്കുകൾ, പരനിന്ദ എന്നിവയും ഒഴിവാക്കുക।

Word by Word

• क्षात्रधर्मरतः: devoted to the kṣatriya duty
• क्षात्रधर्मरतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षात्रधर्म + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षात्रधर्मे रतः)

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपवादार्थक-निपात (even/though)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• वृथा: vainly
• वृथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: in vain/without cause)

• हिंसाम्: violence
• हिंसाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• परित्यज: abandon
• परित्यज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शुष्कवैरम्: fruitless enmity
• शुष्कवैरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्क + वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; कर्मधारय (शुष्कं वैरम्)

• वृथालापम्: vain talk
• वृथालापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृथा + आलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; कर्मधारय (वृथा आलापः)

• परनिदाम्: censure of others
• परनिदाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्य निन्दा)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• वर्जय: avoid
• वर्जय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Unspecified elder/teacher figure in Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (didactic instruction)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A warrior lays down a raised weapon before an unarmed figure, choosing restraint; in the background, a council scene where harsh gossip is silenced and calm counsel prevails.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True strength is disciplined: force must not become cruelty, and speech must not become gossip or blame.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; it is guidance on conduct, especially for a ruler/warrior.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it prescribes ethical restraint in violence, enmity, and speech.