Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

ततो रामः सेवकादीनादरात्प्रत्यभाषत । विप्राज्ञा नोल्लंघनीया सेव नीया प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

tato rāmaḥ sevakādīnādarātpratyabhāṣata | viprājñā nollaṃghanīyā seva nīyā prayatnataḥ

Translation

Daraufhin sprach Rāma ehrerbietig zu seinen Dienern und den anderen: „Den Befehl eines Brāhmaṇa darf man nicht übertreten; man soll ihn mit Mühe und Sorgfalt ausführen.“

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then/from there)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सेवकादीन्: servants and others
• सेवकादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आदि-समास), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (ablative: out of respect)

• प्रत्यभाषत: spoke in reply
• प्रत्यभाषत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विप्राज्ञा: the command of Brahmins
• विप्राज्ञा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विप्राणाम् आज्ञा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• उल्लङ्घनीया: to be transgressed
• उल्लङ्घनीया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + लङ्घ् (धातु) + अनीय (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (अनीय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (not to be transgressed)

• सेवनीया: to be served
• सेवनीया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + अनीय (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (अनीय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (to be served/obeyed)

• प्रयत्नतः: carefully
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्नतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb: with effort/carefully)

Speaker

Rāma

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāma turns to attendants, issuing a firm yet respectful directive: never transgress a brāhmaṇa’s command; carry it out with effort. Brāhmaṇas stand nearby as witnesses.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa)
• Servants/attendants

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Reverence for the righteous and obedience to dharmic counsel are portrayed as essential virtues of ideal kingship and household life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is the narrative locale; its ‘mahatmya’ is conveyed through the dharmic conduct practiced there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not a ritual, but a dharma-rule: do not violate a brāhmaṇa’s instruction; serve it diligently.