Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 23
Devanagari script
अत आवां शुभाचारौ जातौ च शुचिनां कुले । वृत्तं धूर्तजनश्लाघ्यं नाश्रयावः कदाचन
Transliteration
ata āvāṃ śubhācārau jātau ca śucināṃ kule | vṛttaṃ dhūrtajanaślāghyaṃ nāśrayāvaḥ kadācana
Translation
അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞങ്ങൾ—ശുഭാചാരത്തിൽ പരിശീലിതരും ശുചികുലത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചവരും—ധൂർത്തർ പുകഴ്ത്തുന്ന ജീവിതവൃത്തിയെ ഒരിക്കലും ആശ്രയിക്കുകയില്ല।
Word by Word
अतःtherefore, hence
अतः:
Nipata (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatas (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थे
आवाम्we two
आवाम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम; उत्तमपुरुष; प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन
शुभाचारौof good conduct
शुभाचारौ:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśubha + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः (कर्मधारय; ‘शुभः आचारः यस्य’/‘शुभ-आचार’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘आवाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
जातौborn
जातौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√jan (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘born’
चand
च:
Nipata (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक
शुचिनाम्of the pure (people)
शुचिनाम्:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootśucin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘कुले’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः
कुलेin a family
कुले:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkula (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्थान/अधिकरण
वृत्तम्conduct, behavior
वृत्तम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘आश्रयावः’ इत्यस्य कर्म
धूर्तजनश्लाघ्यम्praised by rogues
धूर्तजनश्लाघ्यम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdhūrta + jana + ślāghya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः (तत्पुरुष; ‘धूर्त-जनैः श्लाघ्यम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वृत्तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
नnot
न:
Nipata (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेधार्थक निपात
आश्रयावःwe two have resorted to
आश्रयावः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√śri (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (परिपूर्णभूत/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, द्विवचन
कदाचनever, at any time
कदाचन:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkadācana (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; कालवाचक (निषेधे ‘कभी भी’ अर्थे)
Speaker
Dvijakumārakau (two brāhmaṇa youths)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Two noble figures (speakers implied by ‘āvām’) stand before a forked road; they turn away from a crowd of tricksters applauding a shady trade, choosing a simple path marked ‘śubha-ācāra’.
Characters & Entities
Ś
Śuci-kula (pure lineage)D
Dhūrta-jana (deceitful people)FAQs
True nobility is shown by refusing unrighteous gain, protecting one’s dharma and family honor.
No sacred site is mentioned.
None.