Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

भृग्वादीनां ततो दत्त्वा श्रुतिरक्षणदक्षिणाम् । ततो गीतैश्च नृत्यैश्च भोजनैश्च यथेप्सितैः

Transliteration

bhṛgvādīnāṃ tato dattvā śrutirakṣaṇadakṣiṇām | tato gītaiśca nṛtyaiśca bhojanaiśca yathepsitaiḥ

Translation

Dann gaben sie Bhṛgu und den übrigen Weisen eine dakṣiṇā zum Schutz der Śruti (der vedischen Überlieferung). Danach wurden Gesänge, Tänze und erquicklich gewünschte Speisenfeste veranstaltet.

Word by Word

• bhṛgu-ādīnām: of Bhṛgu and others
• bhṛgu-ādīnām: Sambandha (Related group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम् (Plural); तत्पुरुषः—‘भृगुः आदिः येषाम्’ (bhṛgu and others)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—क्रमवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (then)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘दत्त्वा’ (having given)

• śruti-rakṣaṇa-dakṣiṇām: a fee/gift for protecting the Veda (śruti)
• śruti-rakṣaṇa-dakṣiṇām: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रुतेः रक्षणार्था दक्षिणा’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—क्रमवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (then)

• gītaiḥ: with songs
• gītaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चयबोधकः (and)

• nṛtyaiḥ: with dances
• nṛtyaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चयबोधकः (and)

• bhojanaiḥ: with meals/feasts
• bhojanaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चयबोधकः (and)

• yathā-īpsitaiḥ: with (things) as desired
• yathā-īpsitaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + īpsita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √āp/√īps (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural); अव्ययीभावः—‘यथेष्टैः’ (as desired)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A grand assembly: Bhṛgu and other sages receive gifts symbolizing ‘śruti-rakṣaṇa’; nearby, musicians sing, dancers perform, and attendants serve abundant food according to desire—yet under a sacred, orderly atmosphere.

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Sages (ṛṣis)
• Śruti (Vedas)
• Dakṣiṇā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Supporting guardians of sacred knowledge (Śruti) through charity is dharma, and celebration becomes sanctified when rooted in Vedic protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes communal religious celebration and support of Vedic custodians.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Giving dakṣiṇā to sages for śruti-rakṣaṇa and conducting auspicious festivities (song, dance, feasting) as part of the occasion.