Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

गावो विप्राः सनिगमा अलुब्धा दानशीलिनः । सत्यनिष्ठा इति स्वामिंस्तेषां मुख्यतमा सती

Transliteration

gāvo viprāḥ sanigamā alubdhā dānaśīlinaḥ | satyaniṣṭhā iti svāmiṃsteṣāṃ mukhyatamā satī

Translation

গাভী, ব্রাহ্মণ, নিগমসহ বেদ, নির্লোভ, দানশীল ও সত্যনিষ্ঠ জন—হে স্বামী! এদের মধ্যে পতিব্রতা সতীই সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ।

Word by Word

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Subject—list item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject—list item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स-निगमाः: together with the Vedas (scriptural)
• स-निगमाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (with the Vedas/scriptures)

• अलुब्धाः: not greedy
• अलुब्धाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दान-शीलिनः: habitually charitable
• दान-शीलिनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + शीलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सत्य-निष्ठाः: steadfast in truth
• सत्य-निष्ठाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative/end marker)

• स्वामिन्: O master
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मुख्यतमा: the most important
• मुख्यतमा: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय; superlative)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; अतिशयवाचक (superlative)

• सती: the virtuous woman (Satī)
• सती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक; ‘good/virtuous woman’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Yama

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śiva

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical tableau: symbols of dharma—cow, Brahmin with Veda, sacrificial fire/śāstra, a donor offering gifts, a figure of Truth—culminating in a radiant satī/pativratā as the crown of virtues, while Yama speaks to Śiva.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Īśa (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇic dharma hierarchy honors protectors of life and truth, culminating in reverence for pativratā integrity as a supreme stabilizing virtue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; this is a dharma-centric valuation of sacred supports of society.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Charity (dāna) is praised as a virtue, but no specific rite is prescribed.