Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

अप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियं दांतं शुचिं नित्यमतंद्रितम् । आस्तिकं स्कन्दभक्तं च वर्जयंति ग्रहादिकाः

Transliteration

aprakīrṇendriyaṃ dāṃtaṃ śuciṃ nityamataṃdritam | āstikaṃ skandabhaktaṃ ca varjayaṃti grahādikāḥ

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങൾ ചിതറാത്തവനും, ദമിതനും, ശുചിയുമായും, നിത്യം ജാഗ്രതയുള്ളവനും, ധർമ്മത്തിൽ ആസ്തികനും, സ്കന്ദഭക്തനുമായവനെ ഗ്രഹാദി പീഡകശക്തികൾ ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियम्: one whose senses are not scattered (self-controlled)
• अप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रकीर्ण-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; प्रकीर्ण < √कॄ/कीर् (धातु) + इन्द्रिय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘इन्द्रियाणि अप्रकीर्णानि यस्य’ (having unscattered senses)

• दान्तम्: tamed, disciplined
• दान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त from √दम् (धातु) ‘to tame’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) used adjectivally

• शुचिम्: pure
• शुचिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नित्यम्: constant, always
• नित्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (or adverbial use ‘always’)

• अतन्द्रितम्: unwearied, vigilant
• अतन्द्रितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक; तन्द्रित < √तन्द्र् (धातु) ‘to be sluggish’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्यययुक्त विशेषण

• आस्तिकम्: a believer, pious
• आस्तिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्कन्दभक्तम्: devoted to Skanda
• स्कन्दभक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्कन्द-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्कन्द + भक्त < √भज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्कन्दस्य भक्तः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वर्जयन्ति: avoid, shun
• वर्जयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ग्रहादिकाः: the grahas and others (evil forces)
• ग्रहादिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; ग्रह + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘ग्रहाः आदयः येषां ते’ (grahas and the like)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A composed Skanda-bhakta seated in meditation, senses withdrawn; shadowy graha-figures (planetary spirits) recoil and fade at a distance, unable to approach the aura of purity and devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Grahas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Inner discipline and devotion create spiritual protection; purity and Skanda-bhakti naturally repel harmful influences.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; it focuses on personal dharma and devotion as protective power.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A behavioral vrata-like discipline is implied: śauca (purity), indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint), and steady devotion to Skanda.