Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

परदार परद्रव्य परद्रोहपराङ्मुखाः । जाताजातौ निकृष्टायामपिपुण्यानुसारिणः

Transliteration

paradāra paradravya paradrohaparāṅmukhāḥ | jātājātau nikṛṣṭāyāmapipuṇyānusāriṇaḥ

Translation

அவர்கள் பிறருடைய மனைவி, பிறருடைய செல்வம், பிறருக்கு தீங்கு செய்வது—இவற்றிலிருந்து விலகியிருப்பர்; மிகத் தாழ்ந்த நிலையிலே பிறந்தாலும் புண்ணிய வழியையே பின்பற்றுவர்।

Word by Word

• para: another’s
• para: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (compound member)

• dāra: another’s spouse
• dāra: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार; ‘paradāra’ = another’s wife/wives (as object avoided)

• para: another’s
• para: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (compound member)

• dravya: another’s property
• dravya: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार; ‘paradravya’ = another’s property

• para: another’s
• para: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (compound member)

• droha: harm, betrayal
• droha: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: droha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार (compound member)

• parāṅmukhāḥ: turned away (from)
• parāṅmukhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (implied subject: te)

• jātā: born
• jātā: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jan (धातु) + jāta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार (compound member)

• jātau: in (their) birth/caste
• jātau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘jātā-jātau’ = in a low birth (by birth)

• nikṛṣṭāyām: low, inferior
• nikṛṣṭāyām: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् of jātau

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; concessive ‘even’)

• puṇya: merit, virtue
• puṇya: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (compound member)

• anusāriṇaḥ: following virtue
• anusāriṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√sṛ (धातु) + anusārin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); वर्तमानकृदन्त/नञ्-रहित (agentive) ‘following’; ‘puṇyānusārin’ = followers of virtue

Speaker

Gaṇas (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Saṃyaminī-purī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahābhāga interlocutor

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Three symbolic temptations presented to residents—an alluring figure (paradāra), a heap of coins/jewels (paradravya), and a vulnerable traveler (paradroha opportunity)—all refused; the residents stand calm, hands lowered, eyes steady.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Core dharma is ethical restraint—fidelity, non-stealing, and non-harm—making virtue possible in any circumstance of birth.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; it is a moral description of ideal conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; it prescribes moral vows: avoidance of adultery, theft, and harming others.