Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

आत्मरक्षापरो नित्यमप्रमत्तो दृढव्रतः । विश्वासं नैव कुर्वीथाः स्वभृत्येष्वपि कुत्र चित्

Transliteration

ātmarakṣāparo nityamapramatto dṛḍhavrataḥ | viśvāsaṃ naiva kurvīthāḥ svabhṛtyeṣvapi kutra cit

Translation

എപ്പോഴും ആത്മരക്ഷയിൽ തത്പരനായി, ജാഗ്രതയോടെ, ദൃഢവ്രതനായി ഇരിക്കുക; എവിടെയും—സ്വന്തം ഭൃത്യന്മാരിലും പോലും—വിശ്വാസം വെക്കരുത്।

Word by Word

• आत्मरक्षा-परः: devoted to self-protection
• आत्मरक्षा-परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मरक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative used adverbially)

• अप्रमत्तः: vigilant; not careless
• अप्रमत्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृढव्रतः: firm in vow
• दृढव्रतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (descriptive)

• विश्वासम्: trust
• विश्वासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कुर्वीथाः: should do/place
• कुर्वीथाः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• स्वभृत्येषु: among your own servants
• स्वभृत्येषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (one's servants)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Samuccaya (Inclusion/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• कुत्र: anywhere/where
• कुत्र: Desha-visheshana (Place modifier/देशविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of place)

• चित्: ever/at all
• चित्: Anishchaya (Indefiniteness/अनिश्चितता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक-निपात (indefinite particle, with interrogatives)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vigilant traveler/householder with a staff and travel bundle, alert eyes, keeping watch at dusk; attendants nearby, but the protagonist maintains careful oversight; symbolic imagery of a lamp (awareness) and a locked chest (guarded resources).

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma requires vigilance; careless trust can lead to harm and moral downfall.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred site is mentioned; it is practical nīti.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; the prescription is constant alertness and firmness in one’s resolve.