Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अनुज्ञयैषां कर्तव्यं काजेशा इदमबुवन् । अनुज्ञया विनैषां यः कार्यमारभते यदि

Transliteration

anujñayaiṣāṃ kartavyaṃ kājeśā idamabuvan | anujñayā vinaiṣāṃ yaḥ kāryamārabhate yadi

Translation

‘एषां अनुज्ञयैव कर्तव्यम्’ इति काजेशाः (देवेश्वराः) इदम् अब्रुवन्। यः कश्चिद् एषाम् अनुज्ञां विना कार्यम् आरभते चेत्—

Word by Word

• अनुज्ञया: by/with permission
• अनुज्ञया: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• एषाम्: of these (persons)
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural (of these)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done / is to be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi/Prayojya-bhāva (Obligation predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (कर्तव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; gerundive ‘to be done’

• काजेशाः: the Kājeśas (a group/name)
• काजेशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काजेश (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (speakers)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अबुवन्: they said
• अबुवन्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Imperfect 3rd pl.

• अनुज्ञया: by permission
• अनुज्ञया: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात, ‘without’ (governs instrumental/ablative usage)

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative singular

• कार्यम्: a task / rite / act
• कार्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातुजन्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आरभते: undertakes / begins
• आरभते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present 3rd sg., आत्मनेपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त-निपात (conditional particle)

Speaker

Devāḥ (divine chiefs) conveying a rule attributed to the divine order; framed by Brahmā’s instruction

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine assembly where Indra and other devas proclaim a rule of conduct: actions must be undertaken only after receiving permission; the atmosphere is juridical and solemn.

Characters & Entities

• devāḥ
• anujñā (permission)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious action requires rightful sanction; ignoring dharmic authority invites disorder and harm.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching operates within Dharmāraṇya’s sacred jurisdiction, where conduct is regulated for spiritual protection.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A general prescription: begin any rite or significant act only after receiving permission (anujñā).