Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

विप्राज्ञाकारिणो लोकाः संजाताश्च यथा पुरा । विष्णुधर्मं परित्यज्य नान्यं जानंति ते वृषम्

Transliteration

viprājñākāriṇo lokāḥ saṃjātāśca yathā purā | viṣṇudharmaṃ parityajya nānyaṃ jānaṃti te vṛṣam

Translation

وعاد الناس كما كانوا من قبل مطيعين لأوامر البراهمة؛ ولم يهجروا دارما فيشنو، ولم يعترفوا بثورٍ آخر، أي بمقياسٍ آخر للبرّ والحق، سوى ذلك.

Word by Word

• विप्राज्ञाकारिणः: obedient to the brāhmaṇas’ command
• विप्राज्ञाकारिणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य आज्ञां करोति/पालयति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘लोकाः’)

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• संजाताः: became
• संजाताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जन् (धातु) + संजात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘became’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Sambandha (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• विष्णुधर्मम्: the dharma of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुधर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः धर्मः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having abandoned)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यम्: another (one)
• अन्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘other (dharma)’ (elliptical)

• जानन्ति: know
• जानन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• वृषम्: righteousness/dharma
• वृषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-रूपेण ‘धर्म’पर्यायः (righteousness)

Speaker

Vyāsa (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhūpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A reformed populace gathered respectfully before brāhmaṇas; in the background, a symbolic dharma-bull (vṛṣa) or Viṣṇu emblem signifies the accepted standard of righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Viprāḥ)
• Viṣṇu
• Dharma (Vṛṣa as symbol)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True social order arises when people uphold Viṣṇu-dharma and respect righteous guidance, treating dharma as the highest standard.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya’s sanctity is implied through its role in re-establishing Viṣṇu-dharma and communal righteousness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual; it stresses sustained adherence to Viṣṇu-dharma and obedience to dharmic instruction.