Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

अनिंद्याजीवकर्मा च षड्भिर्दाता प्रशस्यते । अनृजुश्चाश्रद्दधानोऽशांतात्मा धृष्टभीरुकः

Transliteration

aniṃdyājīvakarmā ca ṣaḍbhirdātā praśasyate | anṛjuścāśraddadhāno'śāṃtātmā dhṛṣṭabhīrukaḥ

Translation

നിന്ദ്യമായല്ലാത്ത ഉപജീവനകർമ്മത്തിലൂടെ ജീവിക്കുന്നവൻ—ഇങ്ങനെ ആറു ഗുണങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തനായ ദാതാവ് പ്രശംസനീയൻ. എന്നാൽ വക്രൻ, അശ്രദ്ധൻ, അന്തരത്തിൽ അശാന്തൻ, ധൃഷ്ടനും ഭീരുവും ആയവൻ പ്രശംസാർഹനല്ല।

Word by Word

• अनिन्द्याजीवकर्मा: whose livelihood/occupation is blameless
• अनिन्द्याजीवकर्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier; of दाता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिन्द्य + आजीव + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अनिन्द्यं आजीवकर्म यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• षड्भिः: by/with six
• षड्भिः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करणार्थे ‘by/with six [qualities]’

• दाता: giver
• दाता: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; कर्तरि तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रशस्यते: is praised
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (Passive sense)

• अनृजुः: not straightforward, crooked
• अनृजुः: Visheshana (Qualifier; of दाता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• अश्रद्दधानः: faithless
• अश्रद्दधानः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + श्रद्धधान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धा + शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययः ‘having faith’ → ‘without faith’

• अशान्तात्मा: of unpeaceful mind
• अशान्तात्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + शान्त + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अशान्तः आत्मा यस्य)

• धृष्टभीरुकः: rash and timid (inconsistent)
• धृष्टभीरुकः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृष्ट + भीरुक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (धृष्टश्च भीरुकश्च)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two contrasting donors: one serene, straightforward, offering from honest earnings; another shadowed figure with restless eyes, half-boastful yet anxious, symbolizing crooked intent; a sage indicates the difference.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity gains true praise when it arises from a blameless livelihood and a sincere, steady inner disposition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches general purāṇic dharma regarding the donor’s character.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; the verse defines ethical qualifications that shape the merit of dāna.