Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि । नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः

Transliteration

jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṃ karma kartumihārhasi | nāyaṃ loko'sti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ

Translation

เมื่อรู้กรรมที่สอนไว้ตามบัญญัติแห่งศาสตราแล้ว พึงกระทำ ณ ที่นี้; เพราะผู้มีใจลังเล ย่อมไม่ได้ทั้งโลกนี้ โลกหน้า และความสุข

Word by Word

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषणम् (Gerund/absolutive: having known)

• शास्त्रविधानोक्तम्: as stated by scriptural injunction
• शास्त्रविधानोक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र + विधान + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (उक्त) विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (शास्त्रविधानेन उक्तम्) (Accusative singular, neuter)

• कर्म: duty; action
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neuter)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana/Anukūla (Purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive) (to do)

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• अर्हसि: you ought; you are worthy
• अर्हसि: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (you are fit/ought)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta/Topic (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine; pronoun)

• लोकः: world
• लोकः: Karta/Topic (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine)

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (is/exists)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• परः: the other (world)
• परः: Karta/Topic (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine; 'the other/next world')

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta/Topic (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, neuter)

• संशयात्मनः: of one whose nature is doubt
• संशयात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (संशयः आत्मा यस्य सः) (Genitive singular, masculine)

Speaker

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā tīrtha (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher (guru/brāhmaṇa) instructs a pilgrim holding a manuscript; the pilgrim’s earlier indecision is shown as a shadowy figure behind; ahead lies a clear path to a ghāṭa/temple marked by ritual implements.

Characters & Entities

• Śāstra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Acting with clarity and scriptural alignment leads to welfare; persistent doubt destroys both worldly stability and spiritual progress.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is mentioned; it sets the rule that tīrtha-related practices should be done per śāstra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Follow śāstra-vidhi (scriptural procedure) in performing karma, including expiatory and tīrtha practices.