Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 86
Devanagari script
प्रायश्चित्तानि सर्वाणि कृत्वा च विधिवत्पुनः । अपश्चात्तापिनो नार्या न यांति गतिमुत्तमाम्
Transliteration
prāyaścittāni sarvāṇi kṛtvā ca vidhivatpunaḥ | apaścāttāpino nāryā na yāṃti gatimuttamām
Translation
“即便依仪轨圆满行持一切规定的赎罪法，若心中无悔恨之人，亦不能到达至上的境界。”
Word by Word
प्रायश्चित्तानिpenances
प्रायश्चित्तानि:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन
सर्वाणिall
सर्वाणि:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
कृत्वाhaving done
कृत्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)
चand
च:
Samuccaya
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
विधिवत्according to proper procedure
विधिवत्:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverb of manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविधिवत् (अव्यय)
Formरीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb): ‘according to rule’
पुनःagain / thereafter
पुनः:
Kāla/Adverbial
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formपुनरुक्ति/कालवाचक-अव्यय (again)
अपश्चात्तापिनःwithout repentance
अपश्चात्तापिनः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअ + पश्चात्तापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग ‘अ-’ (without repentance)
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)
आर्याःnoble persons
आर्याः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootआर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय
यान्तिgo, attain
यान्ति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootया (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
गतिम्state, destiny
गतिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
उत्तमाम्highest
उत्तमाम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
Speaker
Brāhmaṇa (unnamed)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A contrast tableau: one figure performs elaborate rites with pride; another, simpler, with genuine remorse. The guru points to the remorseful one as truly progressing.
FAQs
External penances alone are insufficient; without sincere remorse, the highest spiritual attainment is not reached.
No holy site is mentioned in this verse.
Prāyaścittas performed vidhivat (according to rule) are referenced, but the verse stresses the necessity of repentance to make them fruitful.