Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 146

Devanagari script

कार्यारंभं समाप्तिं च वचः प्रोच्य तथा प्रियम् । पिबञ्जिघ्रन्स्पृशञ्छृण्वन्विवक्षुर्मैथुनं तथा

Transliteration

kāryāraṃbhaṃ samāptiṃ ca vacaḥ procya tathā priyam | pibañjighranspṛśañchṛṇvanvivakṣurmaithunaṃ tathā

Translation

കാര്യത്തിന്റെ ആരംഭവും സമാപ്തിയും, വാക്കുകളുടെ ഉച്ചാരണം—പ്രിയവചനങ്ങളായാലും—പാനം, ഗന്ധഗ്രഹണം, സ്പർശം, ശ്രവണം, സംസാരിക്കാനുള്ള ആഗ്രഹം, കൂടാതെ മൈഥുനം—ഇവയും മഹേശ്വരശാസനത്തിൽ സംയമത്തിലും നിയമത്തിലും അധീനമാക്കണം।

Word by Word

• कार्य-आरम्भम्: the beginning of a task
• कार्य-आरम्भम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कार्यस्य आरम्भः)

• समाप्तिम्: completion
• समाप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वचस्-शब्दः)

• प्रोच्य: having spoken
• प्रोच्य: Kriya (Action qualifier/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having spoken/uttered’

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रियम्: what is pleasing
• प्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘drinking’

• जिघ्रन्: smelling
• जिघ्रन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘smelling’

• स्पृशन्: touching
• स्पृशन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘touching’

• शृण्वन्: hearing
• शृण्वन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘hearing’

• विवक्षुः: wishing to speak
• विवक्षुः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वच् (धातु)
• Form: इच्छार्थक-कृदन्त (उणादि/तुमुनर्थ-इच्छा), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘desirous to speak’

• मैथुनम्: sexual intercourse
• मैथुनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Śaiva sādhaka seated in a simple āśrama setting, surrounded by symbolic representations of the senses (ear, tongue, hand, nose, eye) being ‘reined in’ like horses; a calm liṅga or Sthāṇu form of Śiva presides, indicating discipline over daily acts—speech, drinking, touching, hearing, and sexual restraint.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True observance includes mastery over the senses and speech, not merely external ritual.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred site is referenced; the focus is ethical and ascetic regulation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It prescribes restraint over sense-activities (drinking, touching, etc.) and sexual conduct as part of vrata discipline.