Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्याविशुद्ध्यर्थं भवतां सन्निधावहम् । अनुग्रहं मे कुर्वंतु भवंतो मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

brahmahatyāviśuddhyarthaṃ bhavatāṃ sannidhāvaham | anugrahaṃ me kurvaṃtu bhavaṃto munisattamāḥ

Translation

Um mich von der Sünde der Brahmahatyā zu reinigen, stehe ich hier in eurer Gegenwart. O ihr Besten der Weisen, erweist mir Gunst und schenkt mir eure Gnade.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्याविशुद्ध्यर्थम्: for (my) purification from brahmahatyā
• ब्रह्महत्याविशुद्ध्यर्थम्: Karma (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या-विशुद्धि-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्महत्या + विशुद्धि + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्महत्यायाः विशुद्ध्यर्थम् = for the purpose of purification from brahmahatyā)

• भवताम्: of you (hon.)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवद्-शब्दः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोगः

• सन्निधौ: in the presence
• सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अनुग्रहम्: favor; grace
• अनुग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• मे: to me; for me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचनरूपम् (genitive/dative enclitic)

• कुर्वन्तु: let them do; may you do
• कुर्वन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• भवन्तः: you (hon., plural)
• भवन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवद्-शब्दः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोगः

• मुनिसत्तमाः: best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि + सत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मुनीनां सत्तमाः = best among sages)

Speaker

Pāṇḍya king Śaṅkara

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setukṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Muni-sattamas (best of sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king stands close, hands folded, explicitly stating his purpose—purification from brahmahatyā—and begs the sages for anugraha; the sages’ faces soften from condemnation to measured compassion.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Pāṇḍya king)
• Munis
• Brahmahatyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification is not only ritual but relational—seeking guidance and grace from realized sages is central to dharmic restoration.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setu, presented as a sacred arena where sinners seek cleansing through pilgrimage and counsel.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite; it emphasizes seeking the sages’ sanction and grace as part of prāyaścitta.