Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 150

Devanagari script

वारणसिद्धाश्च ये प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणा ज्ञानवित्तमाः । अस्मिन्गोत्रे च ये विप्राः सत्यवादिजितव्रताः

Transliteration

vāraṇasiddhāśca ye proktā brāhmaṇā jñānavittamāḥ | asmingotre ca ye viprāḥ satyavādijitavratāḥ

Translation

Jene Brahmanen, die als Vāraṇa-siddhas verkündet werden—die Vorzüglichsten im Reichtum geistiger Erkenntnis—und jene Vipras, die in dieser Gotra geboren sind, wahrhaftig im Wort und standhaft in Gelübden, die bezwungen und wohl gemeistert sind, werden hier so in Erinnerung gerufen.

Word by Word

• वारणसिद्धाः: the Vāraṇa-siddhas (a named group)
• वारणसिद्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √सिध् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'those called Vāraṇa-siddhas')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who/which (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• प्रोक्ताः: said/called
• प्रोक्ताः: Karma (Predicate participle; described of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘कथिताः/उक्ताः’

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ज्ञानवित्तमाः: best in knowledge
• ज्ञानवित्तमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्तम (प्रातिपदिक; उत्तम-प्रत्ययार्थे तमप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'best in knowledge')

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• गोत्रे: in the lineage/clan
• गोत्रे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• विप्राः: learned Brahmins
• विप्राः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सत्यवादिजितव्रताः: truth-speaking, steadfast in vows
• सत्यवादिजितव्रताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (कृदन्त; √जि (धातु) + क्त) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'truth-speaking and vow-conquering/firm in vows')

Speaker

Unspecified in excerpt (contextual narrator within Brāhma Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa-style narration to sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (with mention of Vāraṇa-siddhas)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formal recitation scene: elders enumerate gotras and siddha-brāhmaṇas; a scribe records names; the atmosphere is solemn, like a dharma-register being read aloud in an āśrama hall.

Characters & Entities

• Vāraṇa-siddhas
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True sanctity is marked by wisdom, truthfulness, and disciplined observance of vows.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is the locus where these lineages of accomplished Brahmins are praised.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (vow-discipline) is praised, but no specific vow or procedure is detailed in this verse.