Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

सार्वभौमत्वमापन्नः प्रजापालनतत्परः । प्रजानां कलिना तत्र पापे बुद्धिरजायत

Transliteration

sārvabhaumatvamāpannaḥ prajāpālanatatparaḥ | prajānāṃ kalinā tatra pāpe buddhirajāyata

Translation

അവൻ സാമ്രാജ്യസാർവ്വഭൗമത്വം നേടി പ്രജാപാലനത്തിൽ തത്പരനായിരുന്നു; എന്നാൽ അവിടെ കലിയുടെ സ്വാധീനത്തിൽ ജനങ്ങളുടെ ബുദ്ധി പാപത്തിലേക്ക് തിരിഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• सार्वभौमत्वम्: sovereignty/universal kingship
• सार्वभौमत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्वभौम (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having attained
• आपन्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ- पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active/PPP in sense of 'attained'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रजापालनतत्परः: devoted to protecting the subjects
• प्रजापालनतत्परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पालन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कलिना: by Kali (the age/personified)
• कलिना: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पापे: in sin/evil
• पापे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: intellect/intent
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अजायत: arose/was born
• अजायत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator within Dharmāraṇya-khaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vigilant emperor intent on prajā-pālana stands in contrast to townspeople subtly turning toward vice—gambling, deceit, neglect of worship—while a shadowy Kali figure whispers into ears.

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Prajā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even with strong governance, Kali’s influence can incline society toward adharma; inner discipline must accompany outer order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it highlights a moral-psychological shift caused by Kali.