Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

लोभात्प्रमादाद्विश्रंभात्पुरुषो वध्यते त्रिभिः । तस्माल्लोभो न कर्तव्यो न प्रमादो न विश्वसेत्

Transliteration

lobhātpramādādviśraṃbhātpuruṣo vadhyate tribhiḥ | tasmāllobho na kartavyo na pramādo na viśvaset

Translation

ଲୋଭ, ପ୍ରମାଦ ଓ ଅନ୍ଧବିଶ୍ୱାସ—ଏ ତିନିଟିରେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ନଶିଯାଏ। ତେଣୁ ଲୋଭ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ, ପ୍ରମାଦ ନୁହେଁ, ଓ ବିବେକ ବିନା ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• लोभात्: from greed
• लोभात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (ablative)

• प्रमादात्: from negligence
• प्रमादात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (ablative)

• विश्रंभात्: from over-trust, misplaced confidence
• विश्रंभात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (ablative)

• पुरुषः: a man
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nominative)

• वध्यते: is killed
• वध्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद-रूप (is killed)

• त्रिभिः: by the three (things)
• त्रिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (त्रयः), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (ablative: therefore/from that)

• लोभः: greed
• लोभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done, should be done
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done/should be done)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• प्रमादः: negligence
• प्रमादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• विश्वसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (one should trust)

Speaker

Nandinī (the cow, speaking to her calf)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic triad motif: three shadowy figures labeled Greed, Negligence, and Blind Trust encircle a traveler; the teacher points to a safe path marked by discernment.

Characters & Entities

• Nandinī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A dhārmic life requires mastery over greed, alertness against negligence, and discerning trust; these protect both worldly welfare and spiritual integrity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it supports the Mahātmya by grounding pilgrimage in right conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the verse prescribes ethical restraints (niyama): avoid greed, avoid negligence, avoid indiscriminate trust.