Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

ततः शिष्यो भविष्यामि विश्वासार्थं दुरात्मनः । सुदीनैः कृपणैर्वाक्यैश्चाटुकारैः पृथग्विधैः

Transliteration

tataḥ śiṣyo bhaviṣyāmi viśvāsārthaṃ durātmanaḥ | sudīnaiḥ kṛpaṇairvākyaiścāṭukāraiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ

Translation

“ดังนั้นเราจักเป็นศิษย์ของมัน เพื่อให้ได้ความไว้วางใจจากคนใจชั่วนั้น—ด้วยถ้อยคำอันน่าสงสารตระหนี่ และคำประจบสอพลอหลากหลายประการ”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘ततः’ = thereafter/then

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — nominative singular

• भविष्यामि: I will become
• भविष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन — ‘I shall become’

• विश्वासार्थम्: for the sake of trust
• विश्वासार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्वासस्य अर्थः)

• दुरात्मनः: of the wicked man
• दुरात्मनः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular

• सुदीनैः: with very humble (words)
• सुदीनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural; विशेषणम् (वाक्यैः/चाटुकारैः सह)

• कृपणैः: with pitiable/mean
• कृपणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural; विशेषणम्

• वाक्यैः: with words/sayings
• वाक्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural

• चाटुकारैः: with flattery
• चाटुकारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाटुकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural

• पृथग्विधैः: of various kinds
• पृथग्विधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथग् (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural; समासः कर्मधारयः (पृथग्विधाः = विविधाः)

Speaker

Duḥśīla (as quoted within Sūta’s narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Duḥśīla speaks to himself, hands folded in mock humility, rehearsing pitiful words; behind the mask, his eyes gleam with intent to deceive.

Characters & Entities

• Duḥśīla
• śiṣya (disciple)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Hypocrisy weaponizes religious roles; dharma requires sincerity, not flattery used for exploitation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No direct tīrtha reference here; the tīrtha-context supports the ethical warning.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes deceitful strategy rather than righteous practice.