Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 110
Devanagari script
असत्यभाषी दम्भीच सदा धर्मध्वजी खलः । लोभी दुरात्मा कथको न कर्ता कर्हिचित्क्वचित्
Transliteration
asatyabhāṣī dambhīca sadā dharmadhvajī khalaḥ | lobhī durātmā kathako na kartā karhicitkvacit
Translation
我曾是说谎者与伪善者——常举“达摩”旗号的恶徒。贪婪而心恶，我只会口头宣讲，从不实行——无论何时何地皆然。
Word by Word
असत्यभाषीone who speaks untruth
असत्यभाषी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअसत्य-भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक; असत्य + भाषिन्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)
दम्भीhypocritical, deceitful
दम्भी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootदम्भिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)
सदाalways
सदा:
Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
धर्मध्वजीone who bears the banner of dharma (pretender)
धर्मध्वजी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्म-ध्वजिन् (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + ध्वजिन्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)
खलःa wicked man
खलः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootखल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)
लोभीgreedy
लोभी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootलोभिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)
दुरात्माevil-souled person
दुरात्मा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + आत्मन्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)
कथकःa storyteller/reciter
कथकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकथक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात (negative particle)
कर्ताa doer (one who acts)
कर्ता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg.)
कर्हिचित्ever, at any time
कर्हिचित्:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकर्हि-चित् (अव्यय; कर्हि + चित्)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite temporal adverb)
क्वचित्anywhere, somewhere
क्वचित्:
Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्व-चित् (अव्यय; क्व + चित्)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite locative adverb)
Speaker
A repentant sinner (self-confession narrative; specific name not in snippet)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A remorseful preacher stands with a ‘dharma-banner’ and scripture in hand, yet behind him lie symbols of greed (coins) and deceit (mask); his face shows shame as he confesses his duplicity.
FAQs
Dharma must be lived, not merely displayed; hypocrisy and greed hollow out religious life.
No holy site is referenced in this verse.
None; it emphasizes ethical practice over performative religiosity.