Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

महादानप्रदो नित्यं ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् । मृगयार्थं ययौ धीमान्स कदाचित्तपोवनम्

Transliteration

mahādānaprado nityaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām | mṛgayārthaṃ yayau dhīmānsa kadācittapovanam

Translation

Stets ein Spender großer Gaben für edle Brāhmaṇas, hochherzige Seelen, begab sich der weise König einst in den Wald der Askese, zur Jagd aufbrechend.

Word by Word

• महादानप्रदः: giver of great gifts
• महादानप्रदः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-दान-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to king); समासः—महद् दानं प्रददाति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

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

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of/for the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• महात्मनाम्: great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘ब्राह्मणानाम्’)

• मृगयार्थम्: for hunting
• मृगयार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृगया-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत्—‘मृगयायाः अर्थम्’ (for the sake of hunting)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• धीमान्: wise
• धीमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘सः’)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कदाचित्: once / at some time
• कदाचित्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• तपोवनम्: the penance-grove (hermitage forest)
• तपोवनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्-वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तपसां वनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Munis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king, after giving generous gifts to brāhmaṇas, rides toward a dense tapovana for hunting; the forest is serene with hermitages, deer, and ascetics—creating contrast between royal hunt and ascetic peace.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• King Śaṅkara (implied)
• Tapovana (forest of austerities)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even powerful rulers are measured by generosity and reverence to holy persons; life’s turns begin when one enters spaces of tapas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse introduces a tapovana episode within Setukhaṇḍa, whose overarching sacred focus is Setu–Rāmeśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mahādāna—regular great charity to brāhmaṇas—is highlighted as a continuing dharmic practice.