Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणानां स्तुतिं चक्रुर्विनयानतकन्धराः । नमोऽस्तु वो द्विजातिभ्यो ब्रह्मविद्भ्यो महेश्वराः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānāṃ stutiṃ cakrurvinayānatakandharāḥ | namo'stu vo dvijātibhyo brahmavidbhyo maheśvarāḥ

Translation

Mit in Demut geneigtem Nacken priesen sie die Brāhmaṇas: „Ehrerbietung euch, o Dvijas, Kenner des Brahman — o große Herren!“

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• स्तुतिम्: praise
• स्तुतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चक्रुः: they did / they performed
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• विनय-आनत-कन्धराः: with necks bowed in humility
• विनय-आनत-कन्धराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + आनत (कृदन्त, √नम्) + कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विनयेन आनताः कन्धराः येषाम्)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमस्कारार्थक-निपात)

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive use), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वः: to you / of you
• वः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) वा चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन (enclitic)

• द्विजातिभ्यः: to the twice-born
• द्विजातिभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (द्वि + जाति)

• ब्रह्मविद्भ्यः: to the knowers of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविद्भ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म वेत्ति इति)

• महेश्वराः: the great lords (addressing the brāhmaṇas)
• महेश्वराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महान् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Brahmā (continuing narration; devas speaking within the narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Amarakantaka

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra and the devas stand with bowed necks before serene brāhmaṇas; hands folded in añjali; the consecrated liṅga and riverbank shrine visible nearby, emphasizing reverence and spiritual hierarchy.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Brahmavid
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the devas honor brahmavid brāhmaṇas, teaching humility and reverence for spiritual knowledge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The scene occurs at Amarakantaka within the Narmadā tīrtha narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Stuti and namaskāra—offering respectful salutations to the spiritually accomplished.