Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 141

Devanagari script

उपायैः साधयेदर्थान्दण्डस्त्वगतिका गतिः । भिन्नाशनं भिन्नशय्यां वर्जयेद्भिन्नभाजनम्

Transliteration

upāyaiḥ sādhayedarthāndaṇḍastvagatikā gatiḥ | bhinnāśanaṃ bhinnaśayyāṃ varjayedbhinnabhājanam

Translation

യോഗ്യമായ ഉപായങ്ങളാൽ തന്നെ കാര്യങ്ങൾ സാധിപ്പിക്കണം; മറ്റൊരു വഴി ഇല്ലാത്തപ്പോൾ മാത്രമേ ദണ്ഡം അവസാന മാർഗമാകൂ. പൊട്ടിയ ഇരിപ്പിടം, പൊട്ടിയ കിടക്ക, പൊട്ടിയ പാത്രം എന്നിവ ഒഴിവാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• उपायैः: by means/remedies
• उपायैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• साधयेत्: should accomplish
• साधयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अर्थान्: goals/ends
• अर्थान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• दण्डः: punishment/rod
• दण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• अगतिका: for one without recourse
• अगतिका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण (negating prefix)

• गतिः: refuge/recourse
• गतिः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिन्नाशनम्: separate eating (food/eating apart)
• भिन्नाशनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त, √भिद्) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (भिन्नम् आशनम्)

• भिन्नशय्याम्: separate bed
• भिन्नशय्याम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त, √भिद्) + शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (भिन्ना शय्या)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भिन्नभाजनम्: separate vessel
• भिन्नभाजनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त, √भिद्) + भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (भिन्नम् भाजनम्)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpottama (a king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vrata-observer in simple clean attire selects an unbroken wooden āsana and intact water-pot and plate; a stern but restrained king sets aside a staff of punishment, choosing counsel instead.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma favors skillful, non-coercive solutions; force is only a last resort, and daily life should reflect order and auspiciousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is about general dharmic conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite; it gives conduct rules, including avoiding inauspicious broken household items.