Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 88

Devanagari script

गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः । उत्पथे वर्तमानस्य परित्यागो विधीयते

Transliteration

gurorapyavaliptasya kāryākāryamajānataḥ | utpathe vartamānasya parityāgo vidhīyate

Translation

แม้เป็นครู หากหลงตน เย่อหยิ่ง ไม่รู้กิจที่ควรและไม่ควร และดำเนินไปในทางผิด ก็พึงละทิ้งได้โดยชอบธรรม; การละทิ้งเช่นนั้นมีบัญญัติไว้

Word by Word

• गुरोः: of a teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः; ‘even’

• अवलिप्तस्य: of one who is arrogant/conceited
• अवलिप्तस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + लिप् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → अवलिप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्; ‘गुरोः’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कार्याकार्यम्: what should and should not be done (duty and non-duty)
• कार्याकार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः (itaretara-dvandva); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘जानतः/अजानतः’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• अजानतः: of one not knowing
• अजानतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (प्रत्यय) → अजानत् (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्; ‘गुरोः’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• उत्पथे: on the wrong path
• उत्पथे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्

• वर्तमानस्य: of one who is proceeding/behaving
• वर्तमानस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत् (धातु) + शानच् (प्रत्यय) → वर्तमान (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present participle, शानच्); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्; ‘गुरोः’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• परित्यागः: abandonment/rejection
• परित्यागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• विधीयते: is prescribed/is enjoined
• विधीयते: Kriya (Passive action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

Yājñavalkya (contextual continuation)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm, didactic tableau: Yājñavalkya explaining dharma to gathered ascetics; the errant guru shown slightly apart, with signs of pride (upright chin, rigid posture).

Characters & Entities

• Guru (Śākalya implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True guruhood is measured by dharma; arrogance and wrongful conduct negate spiritual authority.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The chapter’s tīrtha-focus culminates in Viśvāmitra-hrada, a place associated with cleansing and renewed spiritual discipline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse gives an ethical prescription (parityāga of an adharmic teacher), not a ritual act.