Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

कथितं धर्मपुत्रेण लोकानां हितकाम्यया । विना अन्नैर्विना दर्भैर्विना चासनमेव वा

Transliteration

kathitaṃ dharmaputreṇa lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā | vinā annairvinā darbhairvinā cāsanameva vā

Translation

Dies verkündete Dharmaputra aus dem Wunsch nach dem Wohl der Menschen: wirksam selbst ohne Speiseopfer, ohne Darbha-Gras und sogar ohne einen Sitz.

Word by Word

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु) > कथित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; passive past participle

• धर्म: Dharma
• धर्म: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• पुत्रेण: by Dharmaputra
• पुत्रेण: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; धर्म+पुत्र (तत्पुरुष: 'son of Dharma' = Yudhiṣṭhira)

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (Beneficiary genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• हित: welfare
• हित: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• काम्यया: with the wish for welfare
• काम्यया: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हित+काम्य (तत्पुरुष: 'desire for welfare')

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय/निपात; वियोगार्थ (without), तृतीया-सहयोग

• अन्नैः: with foods (i.e., food offerings)
• अन्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: वियोगार्थ अव्यय (without)

• दर्भैः: with darbha grass
• दर्भैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: वियोगार्थ अव्यय (without)

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

• आसनम्: a seat
• आसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एव: even/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced; reporting Dharmaputra’s statement)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharma-vāpī (implied) / Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) compassionately instructs common people—ascetics, householders, the poor—near a forest tīrtha, indicating that offerings can be simple and still efficacious.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Darbha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In a supremely sacred place, sincerity and dharmic intent can make rites effective even when materials are lacking.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya (context), where ritual efficacy is described as accessible and simplified.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

That the relevant rite/recitation can be performed even without anna (food), darbha, or an āsana (seat).