Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

क्लीबं वा दुरवस्थं वा व्याधितं वृद्धमेव वा । सुस्थिरं दुःस्थिरं वापि पतिमेकं न लंघयेत्

Transliteration

klībaṃ vā duravasthaṃ vā vyādhitaṃ vṛddhameva vā | susthiraṃ duḥsthiraṃ vāpi patimekaṃ na laṃghayet

Translation

ഭർത്താവ് നപുംസകനായാലും, ദുരവസ്ഥയിലായാലും, രോഗബാധിതനായാലും, വൃദ്ധനായാലും—സ്ഥിരനായാലും അസ്ഥിരനായാലും—സ്ത്രീ തന്റെ ഏക ഭർത്താവിനെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയോ ലംഘിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യരുത്।

Word by Word

• क्लीबम्: impotent / eunuch-like
• क्लीबम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लीब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter, accusative singular; adjective)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: “or”)

• दुरवस्थम्: in a bad condition
• दुरवस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; दुरवस्था-तत्पुरुष (neuter accusative singular; adjective)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• व्याधितम्: afflicted / sick
• व्याधितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• वृद्धम्: old
• वृद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter accusative singular; adjective)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• सुस्थिरम्: very steady / stable
• सुस्थिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; सुस्थिर- (well + steady) कर्मधारय (neuter accusative singular)

• दुःस्थिरम्: unstable
• दुःस्थिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुः (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; दुःस्थिर- कर्मधारय (neuter accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (Addition/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc. accusative singular)

• एकम्: one / only
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (masc. accusative singular; adjective qualifying पतिम्)

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

• लङ्घयेत्: should transgress / overstep
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (should not transgress)

Speaker

Unspecified (Dharmāraṇya narrative voice; didactic instruction in context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devoted wife supports an aged or ill husband in a modest gṛha/āśrama setting; calm, restrained gestures emphasizing steadfast care.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steadfast commitment in adversity is upheld as a dharmic ideal of fidelity and endurance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is ethical guidance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A niyama of unwavering fidelity (not abandoning/transgressing the husband).