Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 129

Devanagari script

आहारनीहारविहारयोगाः सुसंवृता धर्मविदानुकार्याः । वाग्बुद्धिवीर्याणि तपस्तथैव वार्तायुषी गुप्ततमे च कार्ये

Transliteration

āhāranīhāravihārayogāḥ susaṃvṛtā dharmavidānukāryāḥ | vāgbuddhivīryāṇi tapastathaiva vārtāyuṣī guptatame ca kārye

Translation

ആഹാരം, ശൗചാദി ദേഹക്രമങ്ങൾ, വിനോദം, യോഗശീലം—ഇവയെല്ലാം നന്നായി നിയന്ത്രിച്ച് ധർമ്മജ്ഞരുടെ മാർഗം അനുസരിക്കണം। വാക്ക്, ബുദ്ധി, ശക്തി എന്നിവ നിയന്ത്രിച്ച് തപസ്സു ചെയ്യണം; ഹിതകരമായ വാക്കുകൾ പറയുകയും അത്യന്തം ഗൂഢകാര്യങ്ങൾ സംരക്ഷിക്കുകയും വേണം।

Word by Word

• āhāra-nīhāra-vihāra-yogāḥ: food, excretion, recreation, and discipline (yogas)
• āhāra-nīhāra-vihāra-yogāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nīhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• su-saṃvṛtāḥ: well-restrained
• su-saṃvṛtāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + saṃvṛta (संवृत, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vṛ ‘to cover/guard’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) विशेषण

• dharma-vit-anukāryāḥ: to be followed according to the knowers of dharma
• dharma-vit-anukāryāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vit (विद्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘knower’) + anukārya (अनुकार्य, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); विशेषण—‘अनुकार्याः’ = अनुकरणीयाः (to be followed)

• vāk: speech
• vāk: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (वाच्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular); समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अङ्ग (member of a set)

• buddhi: intellect
• buddhi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular); समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अङ्ग

• vīryāṇi: strength/energy
• vīryāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Plural); ‘वाक्-बुद्धि-वīryāṇi’ इति समाहारार्थे (collective listing)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• vārtāyuṣī: conversation and lifespan
• vārtāyuṣī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārtā (प्रातिपदिक) + āyuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Dual); समाहार/युग्म (pair)

• guptatame: in the most secret (matter)
• guptatame: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta-tama (प्रातिपदिक; gupta + तमप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular); अतिशय-विशेषण (superlative)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kārye: in a matter/task
• kārye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined pilgrim’s day: simple meal, controlled recreation, seated meditation; a mentor points to a dharma-text; the pilgrim speaks gently to others and keeps a sealed palm-leaf bundle symbolizing guarded confidences.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is sustained by restraint—control of habits, speech, mind, and power—guided by the example of the dharma-wise.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; it is a general dharma instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Practice tapas (austerity), keep beneficial speech, and maintain disciplined routines of food, conduct, and recreation.