Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

शारीरमानसैर्दुःखैर्न सीदंति भवद्विधाः । नाप्राप्यमभिवांछंति नष्टं नेच्छंति शोचितुम्

Transliteration

śārīramānasairduḥkhairna sīdaṃti bhavadvidhāḥ | nāprāpyamabhivāṃchaṃti naṣṭaṃ necchaṃti śocitum

Translation

ତୁମ ପରି ସଜ୍ଜନ ଶରୀର ଓ ମନର ଦୁଃଖରେ କେବେ ଭାଙ୍ଗି ପଡ଼ନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ। ଅପ୍ରାପ୍ୟକୁ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ, ନଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇଥିବା ପାଇଁ ଶୋକ କରିବାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଚାହାନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• śārīra-mānasaiḥ: by bodily and mental
• śārīra-mānasaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śārīra (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (instrumental plural neuter)

• duḥkhaiḥ: by sufferings
• duḥkhaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• sīdanti: sink/despond
• sīdanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• bhavad-vidhāḥ: people like you
• bhavad-vidhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवतः विधाः)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• aprāpyam: the unattainable
• aprāpyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prāpya (कृदन्त; √āp/āpnu (धातु) + ल्यप्/तव्यत्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वकं कृदन्तम् (unattainable)

• abhivāñchanti: desire/long for
• abhivāñchanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhivāñch (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• naṣṭam: what is lost
• naṣṭam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naṣṭa (कृदन्त; √naś (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम् (lost thing)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• icchanti: wish
• icchanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• śocitum: to grieve
• śocitum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuc (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (infinitive), परस्मैपद-धातु; क्रियार्थक-अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa (deductive attribution)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm, learned figure seated in contemplation while scenes of illness, loss, and temptation swirl around; the person remains unmoved, eyes half-closed, signifying inner steadiness.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma-grounded resilience avoids two traps: chasing the impossible and mourning the irreversible; steadiness is itself a virtue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is named; the verse is ethical instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the prescription is psychological and moral—acceptance and disciplined desire.