Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

अपि शत्रुं वधस्यार्हं मा वधीः शरणागतम् । अप्यपात्रं सुपात्रं वा नीचो वापि महत्तमः

Transliteration

api śatruṃ vadhasyārhaṃ mā vadhīḥ śaraṇāgatam | apyapātraṃ supātraṃ vā nīco vāpi mahattamaḥ

Translation

Даже если враг достоин смерти, не убивай того, кто пришёл под защиту, будь он недостоин или достоин, низок или даже велик.

Word by Word

• अपि: even if
• अपि: Samuccaya (Concessive inclusion/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (even/also)

• शत्रुम्: an enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वधस्य: of killing; for killing
• वधस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्हम्: deserving
• अर्हम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (Prohibition/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (prohibitive particle)

• वधीः: kill
• वधीः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वध् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; 'मा' सह निषेध

• शरणागतम्: one who has sought refuge
• शरणागतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगत (कृदन्त; √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष (to refuge + come)

• अपि: even if
• अपि: Samuccaya (Inclusion/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• अपात्रम्: an unworthy person
• अपात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुपात्रम्: a worthy person
• सुपात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• नीचः: low/base (person)
• नीचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अपि: even
• अपि: Samuccaya (Inclusion/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• महत्तमः: the greatest
• महत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A battlefield edge or royal court: a defeated enemy drops weapons and kneels with folded hands; the victor raises an ‘abhaya’ hand, restraining soldiers; dharma-banner and a calm guru/minister figure endorsing the decision.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śaraṇāgati is sacred: one who seeks refuge must be protected, regardless of status or prior enmity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches a universal dharma principle.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is stated; it is an ethical injunction emphasizing protection of the surrendered.