Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

कथनं सत्यमित्युक्तं परपीडाविवर्जितम् । अनादानं परस्वानामापद्यपि कथंचन

Transliteration

kathanaṃ satyamityuktaṃ parapīḍāvivarjitam | anādānaṃ parasvānāmāpadyapi kathaṃcana

Translation

真实（satya）被说为言语如实且不伤他人；而不盗（asteya）则是无论何时，纵在灾厄之际，也绝不取他人之物。

Word by Word

• कथनम्: speaking/statement
• कथनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कथनं विशेषयति (true)

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्मणि (is said)

• परपीडाविवर्जितम्: devoid of injury to others
• परपीडाविवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + पीडा + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; कथनं विशेषयति; परस्य पीडया विवर्जितम् (free from harming others)

• अनादानम्: non-taking
• अनादानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परस्वानाम्: of others' possessions
• परस्वानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे (of others' property)

• आपदि: in distress
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणे (in calamity)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अपि-अर्थे (even)

• कथंचन: in any manner
• कथंचन: Avyaya (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb); निषेध-प्रायः (in any way/at all)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in distress refuses to take unattended goods, choosing instead to ask openly; beside him a figure speaks measured words that soothe rather than wound, symbolizing satya without parapiḍā.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Speak truth in a way that does not harm others, and never appropriate another’s property—even under pressure.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches universal dharma as a foundation for yogic discipline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No external rite is prescribed; it prescribes ethical restraints (satya and asteya) as obligatory conduct.