Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

चरेद्धर्मानकटुको मुंचेत्स्नेहमनास्तिके । अनृशंसश्चरेदर्थं चरेत्काममनुद्धतः

Transliteration

careddharmānakaṭuko muṃcetsnehamanāstike | anṛśaṃsaścaredarthaṃ caretkāmamanuddhataḥ

Translation

وہ سختی کے بغیر دھرم پر چلے؛ بے ایمان سے دل کی وابستگی چھوڑ دے۔ ظلم کے بغیر دولت حاصل کرے، اور غرور کے بغیر جائز لذتوں سے بہرہ مند ہو۔

Word by Word

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Injunctive/should)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्मान्: duties/righteous acts
• धर्मान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अकटुकः: not harsh
• अकटुकः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + कटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (not harsh/bitter)

• मुंचेत्: should abandon/release
• मुंचेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्नेहम्: attachment/affection
• स्नेहम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनास्तिके: in a non-believer/atheist
• अनास्तिके: Adhikarana (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देश (in a non-believer)

• अनृशंसः: compassionate
• अनृशंसः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (compassionate/not cruel)

• चरेत्: should pursue/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अर्थम्: wealth/purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरेत्: should pursue
• चरेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कामम्: desire/pleasure
• कामम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुद्धतः: not proud/unhaughty
• अनुद्धतः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + उद्धत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √उद्-धन्/धृ with उत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (not arrogant)

Speaker

Nārada

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (within Prabhāsa)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bali

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic four-panel teaching: (1) king dispensing justice gently, (2) turning away from a corrupt/faithless counselor, (3) fair taxation and protection of subjects, (4) royal enjoyment tempered by humility.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Kṣatriya/King (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic rāja-dharma teaches balance: firmness without harshness, prosperity without cruelty, enjoyment without pride.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse occurs within Vastrāpatha-kṣetra Māhātmya (Prabhāsa), framing governance ideals within a sacred-kṣetra discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a behavioral prescription (ācāra) for rulers.