Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

अप्रस्तावं ब्रुवन्वाक्यं बृहस्पतिरपिध्रुवम् । लभते बुद्ध्यवज्ञानमवमानं च हीनवत्

Transliteration

aprastāvaṃ bruvanvākyaṃ bṛhaspatirapidhruvam | labhate buddhyavajñānamavamānaṃ ca hīnavat

Translation

உண்மையாகவே, ப்ருஹஸ்பதியும் காலமல்லாத போது சொற்கள் கூறினால், அவரது ஞானம் அலட்சியப்படுத்தப்பட்டு, தாழ்ந்தவனைப் போல அவமதிப்பை அடைவார்।

Word by Word

• aprastāvam: out of context
• aprastāvam: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a+prastāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (improper/out of context)

• bruvan: (one) speaking
• bruvan: Karta (Doer/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘ब्रुवन्’ = speaking

• vākyaṃ: speech/statement
• vākyaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: even)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (certainly)

• labhate: obtains/incurs
• labhate: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• buddhi-avajñānam: intellectual contempt/disregard
• buddhi-avajñānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + avajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (बुद्धेः अवज्ञा = contempt/disrespect in intellect)

• avamānam: insult
• avamānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avamāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• hīnavat: as (if) inferior
• hīnavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hīnavat (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त; क्रियाविशेषण (like an inferior person)

Speaker

Satyavrata addressing Nandabhadra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nandabhadra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Satyavrata cites Bṛhaspati as exemplar; the scene may include a subtle visionary vignette of Bṛhaspati being ignored when speaking at an inopportune time, underscoring the maxim.

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata
• Nandabhadra
• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truth and wisdom must be delivered with proper timing; otherwise even the greatest teacher is treated with contempt.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced; the verse teaches nīti (ethical conduct) in speech.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it prescribes ethical restraint and discernment in giving instruction.