Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 70

Devanagari script

यथाज्येष्ठं यथाश्रेष्ठं प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ ततः । शास्त्रोक्तेन विधानेन प्रददौ द्विजसत्तमाः

Transliteration

yathājyeṣṭhaṃ yathāśreṣṭhaṃ prakṣālya caraṇau tataḥ | śāstroktena vidhānena pradadau dvijasattamāḥ

Translation

Dann, in rechter Ordnung—nach Rang des Alters und nach Vorzüglichkeit—wusch er ihnen die Füße und übergab seine Gaben den Besten unter den Zweimalgeborenen, gemäß dem in den Śāstras gelehrten Verfahren.

Word by Word

• यथा: according to / as
• यथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner: "as/according to")

• ज्येष्ठम्: in order of seniority / the eldest (as per)
• ज्येष्ठम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (acc./nom. sg. neut. used adverbially)

• यथा: according to / as
• यथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• श्रेष्ठम्: in the best manner / as is proper
• श्रेष्ठम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (acc./nom. sg. neut. used adverbially)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√kṣāl (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकर्म (having washed)

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया द्विवचन (acc. dual)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• शास्त्र-उक्तेन: by what is prescribed in scripture
• शास्त्र-उक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त, √vac/√vad)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (instr. sg.); तत्पुरुषः (शास्त्रेण उक्तः = prescribed by scripture)

• विधानेन: by the procedure / method
• विधानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• प्रददौ: gave / bestowed
• प्रददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विज-सत्तमाः: the best Brahmins
• द्विज-सत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (nom. pl.); तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां सत्तमाः = best of the twice-born)

Speaker

Narrator (deduced: Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa style narration within Māhātmya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king or patron, after ritual washing of the Brāhmaṇas’ feet, offers gifts in orderly sequence—elders and the most learned first—amid a tīrtha setting with attendants holding water-pots and gift trays.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through humility and proper procedure—honoring the worthy in the right order and according to śāstra.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha context frames the narrative, but this verse itself focuses on dāna-ritual etiquette rather than naming the place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pādaprakṣālana (washing the recipients’ feet), honoring by seniority/merit, and giving dāna according to śāstra-prescribed rules.