Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 121

Devanagari script

तत्संख्यानां द्विजेंद्राणां दत्तवंतोऽपि वांछितम् । अदैवत्यमिदं श्राद्धं दरिद्राणां सुखावहम्

Transliteration

tatsaṃkhyānāṃ dvijeṃdrāṇāṃ dattavaṃto'pi vāṃchitam | adaivatyamidaṃ śrāddhaṃ daridrāṇāṃ sukhāvaham

Translation

Selbst wenn man Gaben an so viele erhabene Brāhmaṇas darbringt, erlangt man das Erwünschte. Dieses Śrāddha ist „ohne Abhängigkeit von anderen Gottheiten“ und bringt den Armen Wohlergehen.

Word by Word

• tat-saṃkhyānām: of that number
• tat-saṃkhyānām: Sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तत्संख्याः’ (of that number)

• dvijendrāṇām: of the best brāhmaṇas
• dvijendrāṇām: Sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘द्विजानाम् इन्द्राः’ (best of twice-born)

• dattavantaḥ: (they) who have given
• dattavantaḥ: Karta (subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) → datta (कृदन्त, क्त) + -vant (मतुप्/वतु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण: ‘having given/givers’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘even/also’

• vāṃchitam: the desired (result)
• vāṃchitam: Karma (object of implied ‘obtain/receive’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √vāñch (धातु) → vāṃchita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘desired (thing)’

• adaivatyam: not involving a deity
• adaivatyam: Viśeṣaṇa (of śrāddham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + daivatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध: ‘without deity/without requiring a deity’

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (of śrāddham)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• daridrāṇām: of/for the poor
• daridrāṇām: Sambandha (genitive: for/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daridra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• sukhāvaham: bringing happiness
• sukhāvaham: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (predicate adjective of śrāddham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सुखम् आवहति’ (bringing happiness)

Speaker

Bhartṛyajña

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A modest householder offers piṇḍa and water with kuśa grass to a seated brāhmaṇa; behind, subtle presence of Pitṛs receiving satisfaction; emphasis on simplicity and compassion toward the poor.

Characters & Entities

• Dvijendra (foremost brāhmaṇas)
• Śrāddha
• Daridra (the poor)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śrāddha is framed as an accessible dharma: sincere giving and honoring brāhmaṇas yields desired merit, even for those of limited means.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is explicitly named here; it supports the Gayāśiras-centered śrāddha teaching by emphasizing accessibility and fruit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer gifts/food in śrāddha, including honoring brāhmaṇas (dvijendras), in a way that is feasible for the poor.