Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

दिशश्चतस्रो गच्छंतु भवंतो वीर्यवत्तराः । युष्माभिराहतैर्द्रव्यैः करिष्यामि महाक्रतुम्

Transliteration

diśaścatasro gacchaṃtu bhavaṃto vīryavattarāḥ | yuṣmābhirāhatairdravyaiḥ kariṣyāmi mahākratum

Translation

«Zieht in die vier Himmelsrichtungen, ihr Helden von überragender Tapferkeit. Mit den Schätzen, die ihr heimbringt, werde ich das große Mahākratu, das königliche Opfer, vollziehen.»

Word by Word

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• चतस्रः: four
• चतस्रः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• गच्छन्तु: let (them) go
• गच्छन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवन्तः: you (honorific), sirs
• भवन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; आदरसूचक सर्वनाम-प्रयोग

• वीर्यवत्तराः: more valorous/stronger
• वीर्यवत्तराः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• युष्माभिः: by you
• युष्माभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• आहतैः: brought/obtained (lit. struck/collected)
• आहतैः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु) + आहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• द्रव्यैः: with wealth/materials
• द्रव्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• करिष्यामि: I will perform/do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाक्रतुम्: a great sacrifice
• महाक्रतुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाक्रतु (प्रातिपदिक: महा + क्रतु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् क्रतुः)

Speaker

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra) (deduced from context: addressing his brothers before conquest for sacrifice)

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍavas
• Mahākratu (great sacrifice)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual action (yajña) is grounded in disciplined effort and righteous kingship; power is directed toward dharmic rites, not mere conquest.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is Setukhaṇḍa (Setu/Rāmeśvaram sacred region), though this verse itself focuses on preparations for a royal sacrifice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The intention to perform a mahākratu—a major royal yajña—supported by collected resources/wealth.