Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

देवाग्निगुरुसाधूनां निंदा गोब्राह्मणस्य च । प्रत्यक्षं वा परोक्षं वा राज्ञां मंडलिनामपि

Transliteration

devāgnigurusādhūnāṃ niṃdā gobrāhmaṇasya ca | pratyakṣaṃ vā parokṣaṃ vā rājñāṃ maṃḍalināmapi

Translation

ଦେବତା, ପବିତ୍ର ଅଗ୍ନି, ଗୁରୁ ଓ ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ ନିନ୍ଦା କରିବା; ଗୋ ଓ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କୁ ଅପମାନ—ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ କିମ୍ବା ପରୋକ୍ଷରେ—ଏବଂ ରାଜା ଓ ଶାସକମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିନ୍ଦା କରିବା—ଏହା ପାପାଚାର, ନିନ୍ଦ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• deva: gods
• deva: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• agni: fire (sacred fire)
• agni: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• guru: teacher
• guru: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• sādhūnām: of gods, fire, teachers, and holy persons
• sādhūnām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; देवाग्निगुरुसाधूनाम् = देवा + अग्नि + गुरु + साधु (समुच्चयार्थ बहुपद-द्वन्द्व)

• niṃdā: censure, slander
• niṃdā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṃdā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• go: cow
• go: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• brāhmaṇasya: of the cow and the brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; गोब्राह्मणस्य = गो + ब्राह्मणस्य (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वभाव; 'of cow and brāhmaṇa')

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pratyakṣam: directly
• pratyakṣam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• parokṣam: indirectly
• parokṣam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• rājñām: of kings
• rājñām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• maṃḍalinām: of rulers/sovereigns (circle-lords)
• maṃḍalinām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃḍalin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• api: also, even
• api: Samuccaya (Additive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim stands before a Śiva shrine with folded hands; nearby are a sacred fire/lamps, a seated guru, sādhus, a cow with calf, and a brāhmaṇa reciting—while shadowy figures whispering behind backs are shown being turned away, symbolizing rejection of slander.

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Brāhmaṇa
• Go (cow)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity of speech is dharma: disrespect toward the sacred, the virtuous, and social protectors creates spiritual demerit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse provides general dharma that supports tīrtha-māhātmya practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It prescribes restraint from nindā (reviling) and cultivation of reverence; no single ritual act is detailed.