Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

सदाचाराः सुनिपुणा देवब्राह्मणपूजकाः । त्यक्त्वा पाखण्डमार्गं तु विष्णुभक्तिपरास्तु ते

Transliteration

sadācārāḥ sunipuṇā devabrāhmaṇapūjakāḥ | tyaktvā pākhaṇḍamārgaṃ tu viṣṇubhaktiparāstu te

Translation

Sie waren von guter Lebensführung, sehr kundig, Verehrer der Devas und Ehrende der Brāhmaṇas; den Weg der Irrlehre verlassend, wurden sie der Viṣṇu-bhakti hingegeben.

Word by Word

• सदाचाराः: of good conduct
• सदाचाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सद् आचारः यस्य/ये = of good conduct)

• सुनिपुणाः: very skilled
• सुनिपुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + निपुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण

• देवब्राह्मणपूजकाः: worshippers of gods and Brahmins
• देवब्राह्मणपूजकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ब्राह्मण + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजकाः = worshippers of gods and Brahmins)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• पाखण्डमार्गम्: the heretical path
• पाखण्डमार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाखण्ड + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पाखण्डस्य मार्गः = path of heresy)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis/contrast particle

• विष्णुभक्तिपराः: devoted to devotion to Viṣṇu
• विष्णुभक्तिपराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + भक्ति + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विष्णुभक्तौ पराः = devoted to Viṣṇu-bhakti)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brāhma Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta-style narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A transformed community: merchants and householders performing orderly worship—offering flowers and lamps to Viṣṇu, while respectfully honoring Brāhmaṇas; discarded heretical symbols lie aside.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Brāhmaṇas
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma is marked by good conduct, reverence for the sacred, and sincere bhakti—while rejecting misleading paths.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse presents a general dharmic-bhakti ideal within the Dharmāraṇya narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicit prescriptions include pūjā (honouring gods and Brāhmaṇas) and cultivating bhakti; no specific rite is detailed.