Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

वैदिकाचारनिरतः पुराणस्मृतिपारगः । शिवविष्ण्वर्चको नित्यमन्यदैवतपूजकः

Transliteration

vaidikācāranirataḥ purāṇasmṛtipāragaḥ | śivaviṣṇvarcako nityamanyadaivatapūjakaḥ

Translation

Er war dem vedischen Wandel ergeben, in Purāṇas und Smṛtis bewandert; stets verehrte er Śiva und Viṣṇu und erwies auch anderen Gottheiten Ehre.

Word by Word

• वैदिकाचारनिरतः: devoted to Vedic conduct
• वैदिकाचारनिरतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक-आचार-निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—वैदिके आचारे निरतः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• पुराणस्मृतिपारगः: well-versed in Purāṇas and Smṛtis
• पुराणस्मृतिपारगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण-स्मृति-पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—पुराणस्मृत्योः पारगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शिवविष्ण्वर्चकः: a worshipper of Śiva and Viṣṇu
• शिवविष्ण्वर्चकः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-विशेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-विष्णु-अर्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—शिवश्च विष्णुश्च (द्वन्द्व) + अर्चकः (worshipper)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (अव्ययभावे)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• अन्यदैवतपूजकः: a worshipper of other deities (as well)
• अन्यदैवतपूजकः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-विशेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य-दैवत-पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—अन्येषां दैवतानां पूजकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Munis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king performs daily worship: a Śiva-liṅga and a Viṣṇu icon (or śālagrāma) on adjacent altars; lamps, flowers, bilva and tulasī; other devatā shrines respectfully shown in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Viṣṇu
• Purāṇas
• Smṛtis
• King Śaṅkara (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma harmonizes right conduct with devotion—honoring Śiva, Viṣṇu, and the wider divine order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is character-setting within Setukhaṇḍa; the larger glorification pertains to Setu–Rāmeśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Regular arcana (worship) of Śiva and Viṣṇu, alongside respectful pūjā of other deities.