Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

संकल्प्योद्दिश्य सत्पात्रं प्रदद्याद्ग्राममागतः । अतो नाधमपात्राय दातव्यं फलकांक्षिभिः । उत्तमं सेतुमाहात्म्यं वक्तुर्देयं न चान्यतः

Transliteration

saṃkalpyoddiśya satpātraṃ pradadyādgrāmamāgataḥ | ato nādhamapātrāya dātavyaṃ phalakāṃkṣibhiḥ | uttamaṃ setumāhātmyaṃ vakturdeyaṃ na cānyataḥ

Translation

Selbst nach der Rückkehr ins eigene Dorf soll man einen Entschluss fassen und die Gabe einem würdigen Empfänger weihen. Darum sollen jene, die die Frucht des Dharma begehren, nicht dem Unwürdigen geben. Und die erhabene „Größe von Setu“ ist dem zu schenken und zu unterstützen, der sie lehrt – nicht anderswo.

Word by Word

• संकल्प्य: having resolved
• संकल्प्य: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Gerundial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having resolved/intended’

• उद्दिश्य: having intended/pointed out
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Gerundial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having designated/aimed at’

• सत्पात्रम्: a worthy recipient
• सत्पात्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सत् पात्रम् = good recipient)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ग्रामम्: village
• ग्रामम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आगतः: having come
• आगतः: Karta (Subject; implied giver)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि ‘having come’

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Discourse/Reason marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु-अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• न: not
• न: Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• अधमपात्राय: to an unworthy recipient
• अधमपात्राय: Sampradāna (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अधमं पात्रम्)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is to be given/should be given’

• फलकाङ्क्षिभिः: by those desiring results
• फलकाङ्क्षिभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/Agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (फलस्य काङ्क्षी)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of सेतुमाहात्म्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सेतुमाहात्म्यम्: the greatness/glory of Setu
• सेतुमाहात्म्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सेतोः माहात्म्यम्)

• वक्तुः: of the speaker/reciter
• वक्तुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• देयम्: is to be given (as a gift)
• देयम्: Kriya (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is to be given’

• न: not
• न: Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• अन्यतः: from elsewhere; otherwise
• अन्यतः: Adverbial modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/स्रोत-अव्यय (from elsewhere/otherwise)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Setukhaṇḍa Māhātmya narration context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setutīrtha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim returns home and performs saṅkalpa, dedicating a gift to a worthy brāhmaṇa/teacher; separately, a Setu-māhātmya expounder is honored with offerings, seat, and support, while unworthy recipients are turned away.

Characters & Entities

• Setu Māhātmya
• Setu (Rāmasetu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Right intention and right recipient are essential in charity; supporting authentic teaching of a tirtha’s māhātmya is itself a dharmic gift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Rāmasetu (Setu), specifically through the praise and transmission of Setu Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Make saṃkalpa to give to a satpātra even after returning home; avoid giving to an apātra; support the expounder of Setu Māhātmya.