Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

शास्त्रं दृष्ट्वा प्रदत्तं मे प्रायश्चित्तं महात्मना । तथापि दूषितः क्षुद्रैः समस्तैरसहिष्णुभिः

Transliteration

śāstraṃ dṛṣṭvā pradattaṃ me prāyaścittaṃ mahātmanā | tathāpi dūṣitaḥ kṣudraiḥ samastairasahiṣṇubhiḥ

Translation

แม้มหาตมะจะพิจารณาคัมภีร์ศาสตราแล้วกำหนดการไถ่บาปให้แก่ข้าพเจ้า แต่กระนั้น ข้าพเจ้าก็ยังถูกคนทั้งหลายผู้คับแคบและไม่อดทนกล่าวร้ายให้มัวหมอง

Word by Word

• शास्त्रम्: scripture, rule
• शास्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen’

• प्रदत्तम्: given, prescribed
• प्रदत्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+दा (धातु) → प्रदत्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘प्रायश्चित्तम्’ इति विशेषण

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान) वा षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (enclitic); अत्र ‘to me’

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation, penance
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता) वा द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपे (what was given)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अपवादार्थक (concessive: nevertheless)

• दूषितः: defiled, maligned
• दूषितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष् (धातु) → दूषित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता/विशेष्य), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• क्षुद्रैः: by petty (people)
• क्षुद्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समस्तैः: by all
• समस्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• असहिष्णुभिः: by intolerant (ones)
• असहिष्णुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असहिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक: अ + सहिष्णु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Puṣpa (continuing petition)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhagavān/Deva (implied continuation of boon dialogue)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dignified elder (mahātmā) consults scriptures and prescribes expiation; meanwhile, a group of petty townsfolk whisper and point, casting blame; Puṣpa appears pained yet composed.

Characters & Entities

• Puṣpa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Scriptural expiation may cleanse fault, yet society can still cling to blame—highlighting the need for compassion and dharmic fairness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse addresses social dynamics around expiation; it does not name a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Prāyaścitta prescribed according to śāstra is referenced, though the detailed procedure is not restated here.