Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

ततो विनीतवत्सर्वान्काकुत्स्थो द्विजसत्तमान् । उवाच धर्मयुक्तं च वचनं यज्ञसिद्धये

Transliteration

tato vinītavatsarvānkākutstho dvijasattamān | uvāca dharmayuktaṃ ca vacanaṃ yajñasiddhaye

Translation

Daraufhin sprach der Kakutstha-Prinz, in Demut vor allen erhabensten Brāhmaṇas, dharmagemäße Worte, damit das Opfer (Yajña) erfolgreich vollendet werde.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः (ablatival adverb: then/thereupon)

• विनीतवत्: humbly
• विनीतवत्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विनीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: like one who is humble)

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• काकुत्स्थः: Kākutstha (Rāma)
• काकुत्स्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विजसत्तमान्: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजसत्तमान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां सत्तमाः = best of Brahmins)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्मयुक्तम्: righteous
• धर्मयुक्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival to वचनम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः (धर्मेण/धर्मस्य युक्तम् = endowed with dharma)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यज्ञसिद्धये: for the accomplishment of the sacrifice
• यज्ञसिद्धये: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य सिद्धिः)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa Ayodhyāmāhātmya narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The prince stands humbly before the assembled brāhmaṇa-sages and addresses them with dharma-aligned words, requesting guidance and blessings for the sacrifice’s successful completion.

Characters & Entities

• Kākutstha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual success depends on dharmic speech and humility toward the spiritually learned.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā is the implied sacred arena where dharma-guided yajñas are to be accomplished.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse stresses the necessity of dharma-aligned counsel and honoring brāhmaṇas for yajña-siddhi.