Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

न जलोत्तरणे शक्ता यद्वन्नौः कर्णवर्जिता । तद्वच्छ्रेष्ठोऽप्यनाचारो विप्रो नोद्धरणक्षमः

Transliteration

na jalottaraṇe śaktā yadvannauḥ karṇavarjitā | tadvacchreṣṭho'pyanācāro vipro noddharaṇakṣamaḥ

Translation

ചുക്കാനില്ലാത്ത വള്ളം ജലം കടക്കാൻ കഴിയാത്തതുപോലെ, ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായാലും സദാചാരരഹിതനായ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ മറ്റുള്ളവരെ ഉദ್ಧരിക്കാൻ കഴിവുള്ളവൻ അല്ല.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• जलोत्तरणे: in crossing water
• जलोत्तरणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala-uttaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक; जल + उत्तरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (जलस्य उत्तरणम्)

• शक्ताः: capable
• शक्ताः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक; √śak क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Sambandha (Comparison marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: just as)

• नौः: a boat
• नौः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्णवर्जिता: devoid of oars
• कर्णवर्जिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karṇa-varjita (प्रातिपदिक; कर्ण + वर्जित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नञ्-रहितार्थ/तत्पुरुष (कर्णैः वर्जिता = without oars/ears)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Comparison marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (likewise)

• श्रेष्ठः: excellent, eminent
• श्रेष्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: even/also)

• अनाचारः: one without proper conduct
• अनाचारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-ācāra (प्रातिपदिक; अन्/नञ् + आचार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (आचाराभावः)

• विप्रः: a Brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• उद्धरणक्षमः: able to rescue/raise up
• उद्धरणक्षमः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uddharaṇa-kṣama (प्रातिपदिक; उद्धरण + क्षम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उद्धरणे क्षमः)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A river crossing scene: a grand-looking brāhmaṇa stands by a boat lacking a rudder, unable to guide passengers; beside him, a humble, disciplined figure holds a proper rudder, symbolizing ācāra as steering power.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa (vipra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Conduct (ācāra) is essential; status without discipline cannot guide or uplift others.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is a dharma maxim supporting proper recipient selection.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly: do not treat mere social eminence as qualification; prioritize ācāra in religious giving and honor.