Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

नियमान्स्वयमादाय ये त्यजंत्यजितेंद्रियाः । ये ताडयंति गां नित्यं वाहयंति मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

niyamānsvayamādāya ye tyajaṃtyajiteṃdriyāḥ | ye tāḍayaṃti gāṃ nityaṃ vāhayaṃti muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

凡自取戒律而又弃之者，因诸根未伏；又凡常常鞭打牛畜、屡屡驱使其负重者——此等行径被宣为可责，违背自制之正法。

Word by Word

• नियमान्: rules/vows
• नियमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

• आदाय: having taken up
• आदाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ‘आ-दा’ = ‘गृहीत्वा’

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• त्यजन्ति: they abandon
• त्यजन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अजित: unconquered/uncontrolled
• अजित: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √जि ‘to conquer’ with अ-निषेध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• इन्द्रियाः: senses
• इन्द्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ताडयन्ति: they beat/strike
• ताडयन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• वाहयन्ति: they make (it) carry/they drive
• वाहयन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वह् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: repeatedly)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two-part moral tableau: on one side a person ties a vow-thread then discards it; on the other a herdsman beats a cow repeatedly; a serene ascetic stands between, hand raised in restraint (abhaya/niyama).

Characters & Entities

• Go (cow/cattle)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Vows without self-control are hollow, and cruelty to animals is adharma; discipline and compassion are essential to righteous living.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned; it is a general dharma instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Reference is to niyamas (observances), but no specific vrata is named; the verse stresses not abandoning disciplines and practicing non-violence.