Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

अभ्यासबहुला धर्माः शास्त्रदृष्टाः सहस्रशः । सम्यक्संसेविताः कालात्सिद्धिं यच्छंति वा न वा

Transliteration

abhyāsabahulā dharmāḥ śāstradṛṣṭāḥ sahasraśaḥ | samyaksaṃsevitāḥ kālātsiddhiṃ yacchaṃti vā na vā

Translation

శాస్త్రాలలో అభ్యాసం ఎక్కువగా కోరే వేలాది ధర్మాలు చెప్పబడ్డాయి; అవి సరిగా సేవించినా కాలానంతరం సిద్ధి కలుగుతుందో లేదో—నిశ్చయం లేదు.

Word by Word

• abhyāsa-bahulāḥ: abounding in repeated practice
• abhyāsa-bahulāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; ‘dharmāḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• dharmāḥ: dharmas/practices
• dharmāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (धर्म) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्

• śāstra-dṛṣṭāḥ: seen/attested in the scriptures
• śāstra-dṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś/दृश्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; ‘dharmāḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• sahasraśaḥ: in thousands, innumerably
• sahasraśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasra (सहस्र) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb): बहुत्व/परिमाण-वाचकः (‘by thousands’)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (सम्यक्)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb): प्रकार-वाचकः (‘properly’)

• saṃsevitāḥ: practised/served
• saṃsevitāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsevita (कृदन्त; √sev/सेव् + sam- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; ‘dharmāḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• kālāt: after time / in course of time
• kālāt: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative), एकवचनम्

• siddhim: success, attainment
• siddhim: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (सिद्धि) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्

• yacchanti: grant, bestow
• yacchanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (यम्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): विकल्पार्थकः (‘or’)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): निषेधार्थकः

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle): विकल्पार्थकः (‘or’)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhagavān Rudra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sanatkumāra reflects on the countless practices taught in śāstra, heavy with repetition; the scene shows stacks of manuscripts and a long path fading into distance, contrasting with the implied ‘short path’ to be revealed.

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumāra
• Śāstra
• Dharma
• Siddhi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Not all lengthy disciplines guarantee realization; one should seek the most effective, essence-teachings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced; the theme is discerning efficacious dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it contrasts extensive, repetitive sādhanas with the desire for a more immediate means.