Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 194

Devanagari script

स्वर्णमल्पं च यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे । शुभां गतिमवाप्नोति ह्यग्निवच्चैव दीप्यते

Transliteration

svarṇamalpaṃ ca yo dadyādbrāhmaṇe vedapārage | śubhāṃ gatimavāpnoti hyagnivaccaiva dīpyate

Translation

যে বেদপারগ ব্রাহ্মণকে অল্প স্বর্ণও দান করে, সে শুভ গতি লাভ করে এবং অগ্নির ন্যায় তেজে দীপ্ত হয়।

Word by Word

• स्वर्णम्: gold
• स्वर्णम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अल्पम्: a little
• अल्पम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘स्वर्णम्’ इति

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणे: to a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• वेदपारगे: versed in the Veda
• वेदपारगे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-पारग (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + पारग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास — ‘वेदेषु पारगः’ (versed in the Veda); विशेषणम् ‘ब्राह्मणे’

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘गतिम्’

• गतिम्: state/destination
• गतिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक-निपात (indeed/for)

• अग्निवत्: like fire
• अग्निवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/Simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्नि + वत् (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like fire)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: certainly
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic: just/indeed)

• दीप्यते: shines/is radiant
• दीप्यते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is radiant/shines)

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced: Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa narrative style—Brahmā to Nārada)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim respectfully offers a small gold coin/ornament into the hands of a serene Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇa; a subtle flame-like aura surrounds the donor, symbolizing tejas and auspicious destiny.

Characters & Entities

• Svarṇa (gold)
• Brāhmaṇa
• Veda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity given with discernment—supporting true Vedic learning—brings auspicious spiritual uplift and inner radiance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader context is Ayodhyāmāhātmya; the verse supports the dharmic atmosphere of giving associated with the praised tīrtha-region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Svarṇa-dāna: donating even a small amount of gold to a Veda-proficient Brāhmaṇa.