Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

सदाचारं निषेवेत धर्ममूलमतन्द्रितः । दुराचाररतो लोके गर्हणीयः पुमा न्भवेत्

Transliteration

sadācāraṃ niṣeveta dharmamūlamatandritaḥ | durācārarato loke garhaṇīyaḥ pumā nbhavet

Translation

ധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ മൂലമായ സദാചാരം അലസത വിട്ട് നിത്യം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. ദുഷ്ടാചാരത്തിൽ രതനായ മനുഷ്യൻ ലോകത്തിൽ നിന്ദ്യനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सदाचारम्: good conduct
• सदाचारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सद्-आचारः)

• निषेवेत: should practice/serve
• निषेवेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) उपसर्गः नि-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्ममूलम्: the root of dharma
• धर्ममूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य मूलम्)

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied, vigilant
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तृविशेषण)

• दुराचाररतः: devoted to bad conduct
• दुराचाररतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुराचार + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दुराचार-रतः = दुराचारे रतः)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गर्हणीयः: censurable
• गर्हणीयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्हणीय (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—णीयत्-प्रत्यय (गर्ह् धातोः), ‘to be censured’

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm forest hermitage where a teacher instructs a seeker: the path of dharma begins with disciplined conduct; figures of 'good conduct' and 'bad conduct' shown as contrasting attendants.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma thrives through diligent good conduct; persistent misconduct leads to social and spiritual disgrace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned; the focus is general dharma discipline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A clear prescription: consistently practice sadācāra (right conduct) without negligence.