Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

महा दानानि विप्रेन्द्रा ददात्यनुदिनं नृपः । शश्वत्स गोसहस्रं तु ददाति नृपसत्तमः

Transliteration

mahā dānāni viprendrā dadātyanudinaṃ nṛpaḥ | śaśvatsa gosahasraṃ tu dadāti nṛpasattamaḥ

Translation

হে দ্বিজশ্ৰেষ্ঠসকল, সেই নৃপতিয়ে প্ৰতিদিন মহাদান দান কৰিছিল; সেই উত্তম ৰজাই সদায় গৰুৰ হাজাৰ দান কৰি থাকিছিল।

Word by Word

• mahā: great
• mahā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (दानानि इति)

• dānāni: gifts, donations
• dānāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• vipra-indrāḥ: O best of Brahmins
• vipra-indrāḥ: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः)

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• anudinam: daily
• anudinam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-dina (अव्ययीभाव/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• śaśvat: always, continually
• śaśvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śaśvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• go-sahasram: a thousand cows
• go-sahasram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गवां सहस्रम् = a thousand cows)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Emphasis/Contrast (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• nṛpa-sattamaḥ: the best of kings
• nṛpa-sattamaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नृपाणां सत्तमः = best among kings)

Speaker

Prahlāda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (typical frame; not explicit here)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dharmic king in Dvārakā’s court orders daily mahā-dāna: lines of cows with decorated horns, attendants distributing gifts, brāhmaṇas blessing; the sea-city’s gateways and banners in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Nṛga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Consistent generosity (dāna) is a pillar of dharma; wealth becomes sacred when used for daily giving.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse contributes to Dvārakā Māhātmya’s dharma-teaching atmosphere around Kṛṣṇa’s sacred region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Go-dāna and mahā-dāna are explicitly mentioned as recurring acts of charity.