Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

तत्र साम प्रयोक्तव्यमार्येषु गुणवत्सु च । दानं लुब्धेषु भेदश्च शंकितोष्वितो निश्चयः

Transliteration

tatra sāma prayoktavyamāryeṣu guṇavatsu ca | dānaṃ lubdheṣu bhedaśca śaṃkitoṣvito niścayaḥ

Translation

ഇവിടെ ആര്യന്മാരോടും ഗുണവാന്മാരോടും ‘സാമം’ പ്രയോഗിക്കണം; ലുബ്ധന്മാരിൽ ‘ദാനം’ ഫലപ്രദം; സംശയശീലരും ചഞ്ചലചിത്തരുമായവരിൽ ‘ഭേദം’ തന്നെയാണ് നിശ്ചിത ഉപായം.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there, in that context
• तत्र: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• साम: conciliation
• साम: Karta (Topic/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रयोक्तव्यम्: should be employed
• प्रयोक्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; साम इत्यस्य विधेयम्

• आर्येषु: among the noble
• आर्येषु: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूह/व्यक्ति), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गुणवत्सु: virtuous, possessing qualities
• गुणवत्सु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; आर्येषु इत्यस्य सह विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• दानम्: gift/bribe
• दानम्: Karta (Topic/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लुब्धेषु: among the greedy
• लुब्धेषु: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भेदः: dissension
• भेदः: Karta (Topic/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• शङ्कितोषु: among the suspicious/doubtful
• शङ्कितोषु: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• निश्चयः: the rule/decision
• निश्चयः: Karta (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Bṛhaspati

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Suraśreṣṭha (deva leadership)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Three archetypal figures appear before a counselor: a noble person with calm face (sāma), a greedy merchant-like figure eyeing coins (dāna), and a suspicious warrior glancing sideways (bheda), while Bṛhaspati points to each with discriminating clarity.

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Discernment is dharma’s ally: different temperaments require different remedies, chosen with awareness of character.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.