Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

यथा हि नहुषो जातस्तथा सर्वेऽपि तादृशाः । विप्राणामवमानेन पतिन्ति निरयेऽशुचौ

Transliteration

yathā hi nahuṣo jātastathā sarve'pi tādṛśāḥ | viprāṇāmavamānena patinti niraye'śucau

Translation

Sebagaimana Nahuṣa jatuh ke dalam kebinasaan demikian, demikian pula semua yang berbuat serupa: dengan menghina para brāhmana, mereka segera terjerumus ke neraka yang cemar.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamāna-bodhaka (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (comparative/‘as’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नहुषः: Nahuṣa
• नहुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• जातः: became, was born/turned into
• जातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Upamāna-sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्वत्/एवमेव अर्थे अव्यय (correlative ‘so’)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• तादृशाः: such (like that)
• तादृशाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• विप्राणाम्: of Brahmins
• विप्राणाम्: Sambandha (Relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अवमानेन: by (their) disrespect
• अवमानेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (Means/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• निरये: in hell
• निरये: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• अशुचौ: impure, filthy
• अशुचौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘निरये’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau: the fallen king as python contrasted with a remembered image of Nahuṣa’s downfall; shadowy naraka imagery hinted behind, while sages stand as moral axis.

Characters & Entities

• Nahuṣa
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Contempt for the righteous—especially brāhmaṇas—destroys merit and leads to rapid downfall.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader frame is Kedāra Khaṇḍa (Kedārakṣetra/Kedarnath region), though this verse itself stresses ethical dharma rather than a site-description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; the injunction is ethical—avoid avamāna (insult) and uphold satkāra (honour) of the learned.