Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

संतर्प्य पितृदेवर्षीन्दानैश्च द्विजसत्तमान् । संपूज्य देवदेवेशं शंकरं लोकशंकरम्

Transliteration

saṃtarpya pitṛdevarṣīndānaiśca dvijasattamān | saṃpūjya devadeveśaṃ śaṃkaraṃ lokaśaṃkaram

Translation

بعد أن أرضيتُ الآباءَ الأسلاف (Pitṛs) والآلهةَ والريشيين، وأشبعتُ أفضلَ البراهمة بالعطايا، وبعد أن عبدتُ شَنْكَرا حقَّ العبادة—ربَّ الأرباب، مُسعِدَ العوالم.

Word by Word

• संतर्प्य: having satisfied
• संतर्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-तृप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive); ‘संतर्पयित्वा’ (having satisfied)

• पितृदेवर्षीन्: the Pitṛs, gods, and sages
• पितृदेवर्षीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-देव-ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (पितरः च देवाः च ऋषयः च)

• दानैः: by gifts
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• द्विजसत्तमान्: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजसत्तमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां सत्तमाः)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive); ‘संपूजयित्वा’ (having worshipped)

• देवदेवेशम्: the Lord of the god of gods
• देवदेवेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवस्य ईशः)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देवदेवेशस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन्

• लोकशंकरम्: benefactor of the world
• लोकशंकरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य शंकरः)

Speaker

Unspecified (context suggests a king describing dharmic acts and Śaiva devotion)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king performs tarpaṇa with water and sesame, then offers gifts to venerable brāhmaṇas; finally he bows before a Śiva-liṅga adorned with bilva leaves, lamps, and incense.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Ṛṣis
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through gratitude and reciprocity—honoring ancestors, sages, and gods—culminating in devotion to Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse highlights universal Śaiva worship and dharmic obligations.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tarpaṇa/propitiation of pitṛs-devas-ṛṣis and dāna to eminent brāhmaṇas, along with full worship (saṃpūjā) of Śaṅkara.