Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 129

Devanagari script

चिरं पृच्छेच्च श्रृणुयाच्चिरं न परिभूयते । धर्मे शत्रौ शस्त्रहस्ते पात्रे च निकटस्थिते

Transliteration

ciraṃ pṛcchecca śrṛṇuyācciraṃ na paribhūyate | dharme śatrau śastrahaste pātre ca nikaṭasthite

Translation

ദീർഘകാലം ചോദിക്കുകയും ദീർഘകാലം കേൾക്കുകയും ചെയ്താൽ എളുപ്പത്തിൽ പരാജയപ്പെടുകയില്ല; എന്നാൽ ധർമ്മകാര്യത്തിൽ, ശത്രുവിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ, കൈയിൽ ആയുധമുള്ളപ്പോൾ, യോഗ്യപാത്രൻ സമീപത്ത് നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ—വൈകിക്കരുത്।

Word by Word

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• पृच्छेत्: should ask
• पृच्छेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• शृणुयात्: should listen
• शृणुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

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

• परिभूयते: is overpowered/insulted
• परिभूयते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• धर्मे: in matters of dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th); एकवचन — locative singular

• शत्रौ: in (dealing with) an enemy
• शत्रौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th); एकवचन — locative singular

• शस्त्रहस्ते: when a weapon is in hand; armed situation
• शस्त्रहस्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th); एकवचन — locative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (शस्त्रं हस्ते यस्य/हस्ते शस्त्रम्)

• पात्रे: in a vessel/recipient (fit person)
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th); एकवचन — locative singular

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

• निकटस्थिते: when (someone/thing) is standing nearby; in close proximity
• निकटस्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निकट + स्थित (स्था-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th); एकवचन — locative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (निकटे स्थितः)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Split-scene: on one side a student patiently questioning a teacher; on the other, a warrior facing an enemy with weapon ready; a third vignette shows a donor placing gifts into a worthy ascetic’s hands immediately—illustrating ‘do not delay’ when pātra is near.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Be patient in learning (ask and listen), but act without delay when dharma, danger, or a deserving opportunity for charity is present.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a general nīti (ethical) instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It implicitly commends prompt dāna (giving) when a pātra (worthy recipient) is nearby.