Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

दिवसे दिवसे मूढमावशंति न पंडितम् । न हि ज्ञानविरुद्धेषु बह्वबपायेषु कर्मसु

Transliteration

divase divase mūḍhamāvaśaṃti na paṃḍitam | na hi jñānaviruddheṣu bahvabapāyeṣu karmasu

Translation

วันแล้ววันเล่า ภัยพิบัติครอบงำคนเขลา มิใช่บัณฑิต; เพราะบัณฑิตไม่ข้องเกี่ยวในกรรมที่ขัดต่อญาณ และเต็มไปด้วยอันตรายมากมาย

Word by Word

• दिवसे: in a day
• दिवसे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (in a day)

• दिवसे: day by day
• दिवसे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; पुनरुक्तिः—‘दिवसे दिवसे’ = ‘प्रतिदिनम्’ (each day)

• मूढम्: a fool
• मूढम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• आवशन्ति: overpower, subdue
• आवशन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः ‘आ-’ (to bring under control/overpower)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation: not)

• पण्डितम्: a learned person
• पण्डितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (not)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle: indeed/for)

• ज्ञानविरुद्धेषु: in actions contrary to knowledge
• ज्ञानविरुद्धेषु: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-विरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: ज्ञान + विरुद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (ज्ञानेन विरुद्धाः = contrary to knowledge); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘कर्मसु’)

• बह्वबपायेषु: in (those) with many dangers
• बह्वबपायेषु: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-अपाय (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: बहु + अपाय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (बहवः अपायाः यस्मिन्/येषु = having many dangers); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘कर्मसु’)

• कर्मसु: in actions
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरणे (in actions)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa (deductive attribution)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two travelers: the foolish rushes into a thorny, stormy path and is overwhelmed; the wise consults a scripture-bearing elder and takes a safe, clear path, symbolizing knowledge-aligned action.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Misfortune repeatedly traps the ignorant because they act against discernment; wisdom expresses itself as careful, dharmic choice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse gives a behavioral criterion: avoid jñāna-viruddha (knowledge-opposing) actions.