Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रतिपन्नं द्विजोत्तमैः । निर्धनैः सधनैश्चापि सस्पृहैर्निःस्पृहैरपि

Transliteration

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā pratipannaṃ dvijottamaiḥ | nirdhanaiḥ sadhanaiścāpi saspṛhairniḥspṛhairapi

Translation

Als sie jene Worte vernahmen, nahmen die Besten der Zweimalgeborenen den Beschluss an—die Armen wie die Reichen, die Begehrenden wie die Begehrlosen gleichermaßen.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying वचनम्)

• वचनम्: statement; words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive): “having heard”

• प्रतिपन्नम्: accepted; agreed upon
• प्रतिपन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) कृदन्तः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-भावः (accepted/assented); here agreeing with implied neuter matter/decision

• द्विजोत्तमैः: by the best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमैः: Kartr-karana/Agent-instrument (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (द्विजानाम् उत्तमाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• निर्धनैः: by/with the poor
• निर्धनैः: Karana/Association (सहभाव/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + धन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नञ्/उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः (निर्धन = without wealth); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying persons)

• सधनैः: by/with the wealthy
• सधनैः: Karana/Association (सहभाव/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + धन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सधन = with wealth); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

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

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (निपात)
• Form: निपातः (also/even)

• सस्पृहैः: by/with the desirous
• सस्पृहैः: Karana/Association (सहभाव/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + स्पृह (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सस्पृह = with desire/longing); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• निःस्पृहैः: by/with the desireless
• निःस्पृहैः: Karana/Association (सहभाव/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + स्पृह (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः (निःस्पृह = free from desire); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (निपात)
• Form: निपातः (also/even)

Speaker

Sūta (narration continuing)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brāhmaṇas and townspeople—rich and poor—nod in agreement; some offer coins, others offer labor; the decision is accepted with calm unity.

Characters & Entities

• Dvijottamas (leading brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred duty is communal: when dharma is recognized, all—regardless of wealth or personal desire—can unite in supporting it.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the tīrtha’s greatness by showing broad communal alignment for its sacred project, without naming the site here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No discrete ritual; it records acceptance of a plan connected to dāna and sacred establishment.