Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 79

Devanagari script

शुभे देशे निवेश्याथ क्षौमवस्त्रादिभिस्तथा । पुराणपुस्तकं राजन्प्रयतः शिष्टसंमतः

Transliteration

śubhe deśe niveśyātha kṣaumavastrādibhistathā | purāṇapustakaṃ rājanprayataḥ śiṣṭasaṃmataḥ

Translation

O König, nachdem man das Purāṇa-Buch an einem glückverheißenden Ort niedergelegt und es mit Leinengewand und dergleichen geschmückt hat, soll man in Reinheit und in von Gelehrten gebilligter Haltung fortfahren.

Word by Word

• शुभे: in an auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्

• देशे: place
• देशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• निवेश्य: having placed/installed
• निवेश्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having placed/installed’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• क्षौमवस्त्रादिभिः: with linen cloth etc.
• क्षौमवस्त्रादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣauma + vastra + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः (क्षौमवस्त्राणि आदयः येषु तैः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (in that manner/also)

• पुराणपुस्तकम्: the Purāṇa book
• पुराणपुस्तकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa + pustaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (पुराणस्य पुस्तकम्)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रयतः: disciplined, purified
• प्रयतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + yat (धातु) → prayata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (शुद्ध/संयत)

• शिष्टसंमतः: approved by the learned
• शिष्टसंमतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiṣṭa + sammata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (शिष्टैः संमतः)

Speaker

Vyāsa (instructional transition into pūjā-vidhi)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: rājan (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A clean pavilion with a raised wooden stand; the Purāṇa manuscript/book wrapped in pale linen, placed in an auspicious direction; the patron-king and attendants approach with washed hands, calm faces, and respectful posture.

Characters & Entities

• Purāṇa-pustaka (scripture manuscript/book)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Scripture is to be treated as sacred presence—outer order and inner purity support dharmic study and recitation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The immediate focus is on purāṇa-veneration practices connected to Dharmāraṇya’s māhātmya recitation, rather than a new site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Place the Purāṇa manuscript in a clean, auspicious spot and honor it with cloth; maintain personal purity and proper conduct.