Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अकृत्यकरणं चैव वर्जनीयं सदा बुधैः । अहीनः सर्वकार्येषु यः सदा विप्र वर्तते

Transliteration

akṛtyakaraṇaṃ caiva varjanīyaṃ sadā budhaiḥ | ahīnaḥ sarvakāryeṣu yaḥ sadā vipra vartate

Translation

അകൃത്യം ചെയ്യുന്നത് ജ്ഞാനികൾ എപ്പോഴും ഒഴിവാക്കണം. ഹേ വിപ്രാ! എല്ലാ കര്‍ത്തവ്യങ്ങളിലും സദാ ജാഗ്രതയോടെ അപ്രമാദിയായി നടക്കുന്നവനാണ് യഥാർത്ഥമായി ജീവിക്കുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• अकृत्यकरणम्: doing what should not be done
• अकृत्यकरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-कृत्य-करण (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + कृत्य; √कृ (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अकृत्यस्य करणम्)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• वर्जनीयम्: to be avoided
• वर्जनीयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जनीय (प्रातिपदिक; √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु) + अनीयर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (gerundive: ‘to be avoided’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• अहीनः: not lacking
• अहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त-विशेषणम् (not deficient)

• सर्वकार्येषु: in all duties/acts
• सर्वकार्येषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि कार्याणि)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• वर्तते: conducts himself/exists
• वर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narrator addressing a Brāhmaṇa interlocutor (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: vipra (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vigilant pilgrim at dawn performing sandhyā by the river, while temptations (symbols of akṛtya) fade behind; a sage blesses the ‘apramatta’ traveler.

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Wisdom shows itself by avoiding improper actions and by careful, consistent fulfillment of one’s duties.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified in this verse; it teaches general conduct suitable for sacred observances.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Varjana (avoidance) of akṛtya (forbidden acts) and maintaining diligence in all prescribed duties.