Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

इद्रियाणां जयः कार्यो मद्यं द्यूतं विवर्जयेत् । विवादं गमनं युद्धं गृही यत्नेन वर्जयेत्

Transliteration

idriyāṇāṃ jayaḥ kāryo madyaṃ dyūtaṃ vivarjayet | vivādaṃ gamanaṃ yuddhaṃ gṛhī yatnena varjayet

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രിയജയം നേടാൻ പരിശ്രമിക്കുകയും മദ്യവും ചൂതാട്ടവും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയും വേണം. ഗൃഹസ്ഥൻ വഴക്ക്, അശ്രദ്ധയായ അലച്ചിൽ, യുദ്ധം എന്നിവ ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ഒഴിവാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the senses
• इन्द्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive: of the senses)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (Neuter, Genitive, Plural)

• जयः: conquest; control
• जयः: Karta (Subject: victory/conquest)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• कार्यः: should be done
• कार्यः: Predicate (vidheya)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); विधेय

• मद्यम्: liquor
• मद्यम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• द्यूतम्: gambling
• द्यूतम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विवर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• विवादम्: quarrel; dispute
• विवादम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• गमनम्: going out; travel
• गमनम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गमन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-घञ्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• युद्धम्: battle; fighting
• युद्धम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• गृही: a householder
• गृही: Karta (Subject: householder)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (instrument/means: with effort)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd person singular)

Speaker

Sārasvata (continuing)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined householder-pilgrim at a Prabhāsa tīrtha: he turns away from a tavern and dice-game, restrains anger amid a quarrel, and proceeds calmly toward the sacred waters with prayer beads.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual merit is preserved through self-mastery; indulgence and conflict destroy the fruits of dharma, especially for householders.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the Vastrāpathakṣetra-māhātmya in Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, teaching the ethical discipline expected in a sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A restraint-based vrata is prescribed: indriya-jaya, and avoidance of alcohol (madya), gambling (dyūta), quarrel, and violence.