Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

सार्वभौमत्वमापन्नः प्रजापालनतत्परः । प्रजानां कलिना तत्र पापे बुद्धिरजायत

Transliteration

sārvabhaumatvamāpannaḥ prajāpālanatatparaḥ | prajānāṃ kalinā tatra pāpe buddhirajāyata

Translation

ساروبھوم اقتدار پا کر اور رعایا کی نگہبانی میں مشغول رہتے ہوئے بھی، وہاں کَلی کے اثر سے لوگوں کی عقلیں گناہ کی طرف مائل ہو گئیں۔

Word by Word

• सार्वभौमत्वम्: sovereignty/universal kingship
• सार्वभौमत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्वभौम (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having attained
• आपन्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ- पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active/PPP in sense of 'attained'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रजापालनतत्परः: devoted to protecting the subjects
• प्रजापालनतत्परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पालन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कलिना: by Kali (the age/personified)
• कलिना: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पापे: in sin/evil
• पापे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: intellect/intent
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अजायत: arose/was born
• अजायत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator within Dharmāraṇya-khaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vigilant emperor intent on prajā-pālana stands in contrast to townspeople subtly turning toward vice—gambling, deceit, neglect of worship—while a shadowy Kali figure whispers into ears.

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Prajā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even with strong governance, Kali’s influence can incline society toward adharma; inner discipline must accompany outer order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it highlights a moral-psychological shift caused by Kali.