Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15
Devanagari script
श्रुत्वा तत्कारणं सर्वं बालो दीनमना ब्रवीत् । अहो हा कष्टमत्युग्रं बुधानां यदबुद्धिता
Transliteration
śrutvā tatkāraṇaṃ sarvaṃ bālo dīnamanā bravīt | aho hā kaṣṭamatyugraṃ budhānāṃ yadabuddhitā
Translation
அக்காரணமெல்லாம் கேட்ட அந்தச் சிறுவன் மனம் தளர்ந்து கூறினான்—“அய்யோ! எத்தனை கொடிய துயரம்! அறிவுடையோர்க்கும் அறியாமை வந்து சேர்வது!”
Word by Word
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (प्रत्यय)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action): ‘having heard’
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (Object)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)
कारणम्cause, reason
कारणम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन
सर्वम्all, entire
सर्वम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण
बालःthe boy
बालः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootबाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
दीनमनाःdowncast-minded, dejected
दीनमनाः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootदीन (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘दीनं मनः यस्य’)
ब्रवीत्said, spoke
ब्रवीत्:
Kriyā (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
अहोalas!, oh!
अहो:
Sambodhana/Exclamation
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअहो (अव्यय)
Formउद्गार/विस्मयादि अव्यय (interjection)
हाalas!
हा:
Sambodhana/Exclamation
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहा (अव्यय)
Formशोक-उद्गार अव्यय (interjection of lament)
कष्टम्a hardship, a terrible thing
कष्टम्:
Karma/Predicative (Object-like exclamation)
TypeNoun
Rootकष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यहाँ भाववाचक (as ‘a hardship/terrible thing’)
अति-उग्रम्exceedingly fierce/terrible
अति-उग्रम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (‘अत्युग्र’ = अत्यन्तं उग्रम्)
बुधानाम्of the wise
बुधानाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन
यत्that (which)
यत्:
Clause linker
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative particle) — ‘that/which’ introducing clause
अबुद्धिताlack of understanding, folly
अबुद्धिता:
Karta/Predicative (Subject of implied ‘is’)
TypeNoun
Rootअ (नञ्) + बुद्धिता (प्रातिपदिक; भाव)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक भाववाचक
Speaker
The boy (addressing Nandabhadra)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A sorrowful boy, head bowed and eyes moist, speaks after hearing a grave explanation; elders or a sage stand nearby, the atmosphere heavy with moral realization.
Characters & Entities
N
NandabhadraB
bāla (boy)B
budha (wise)FAQs
The verse stresses viveka (discernment): without it, even intelligence can collapse into self-defeating decisions.
No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.
None; it is an ethical-spiritual observation.