Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

मनसा कर्मणा वाचा तदस्तेयं प्रकीर्तितम् । अमैथुनं यतीनां च मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः

Transliteration

manasā karmaṇā vācā tadasteyaṃ prakīrtitam | amaithunaṃ yatīnāṃ ca manovākkāyakarmabhiḥ

Translation

മനസാ, കർമണാ, വാചാ മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ വസ്തു എടുക്കാതിരിക്കുക—ഇതാണ് ‘അസ്തേയം’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം. യതികൾക്കു ‘അമൈഥുനം’ (ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം) മനോ-വാക്-കായ കർമങ്ങളാൽ പാലിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करणार्थे (by mind)

• कर्मणा: by deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणार्थे (by action/deed)

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणार्थे (by speech)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अस्तेयं विशेषयति (that)

• अस्तेयम्: non-stealing
• अस्तेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मणि (is proclaimed)

• अमैथुनम्: celibacy (non-intercourse)
• अमैथुनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थक-पूर्वपद (non-sexual conduct)

• यतीनाम्: of ascetics
• यतीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे (of ascetics)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः: by mind, speech, body, and actions
• मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + वाच् + काय + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (mind-speech-body-actions) करणार्थे (by means of...)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yati sits in meditation with three luminous bands around him labeled manas-vāk-kāya; temptations (gold, sensual imagery) appear faintly at the margins but dissolve, indicating mastery of asteya and brahmacarya across the three channels.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True restraint is threefold—mind, speech, and body—especially regarding non-stealing and celibacy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse focuses on inner discipline rather than sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A behavioral vow is implied: celibacy for renunciants and comprehensive asteya across mind–speech–body.