Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

कृष्णद्वैपायनस्यैव क्षेमार्थं मुनिपुंगवाः । मन्त्रयित्वा द्विजैः सर्वैर्वेदमङ्गलपाठकैः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇadvaipāyanasyaiva kṣemārthaṃ munipuṃgavāḥ | mantrayitvā dvijaiḥ sarvairvedamaṅgalapāṭhakaiḥ

Translation

For the welfare of Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa), the foremost sages, having consulted together with all the twice-born—reciters of auspicious Vedic chants—(undertook the sacred work there).

Word by Word

• कृष्ण: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• द्वैपायनस्य: of Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• द्वैपायनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (restrictive/emphatic)

• क्षेम: welfare/safety
• क्षेम: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• अर्थम्: for the sake of
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘क्षेमार्थम्’ इति प्रयोजनार्थे

• मुनि: sages
• मुनि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• पुंगवाः: chiefs/excellent ones
• पुंगवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठाः’ अर्थे

• मन्त्रयित्वा: having consulted
• मन्त्रयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु) → मन्त्रयित्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having consulted’

• द्विजैः: with the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (With/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन

• सर्वैः: all
• सर्वैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विजैः इति विशेषणम्

• वेद: Veda
• वेद: Viśeṣya-aṅga (Member of compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• मङ्गल: auspicious (benediction)
• मङ्गल: Viśeṣya-aṅga (Member of compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासमध्यपदत्वेन

• पाठकैः: reciters
• पाठकैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (With/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘वेदमङ्गलपाठकैः’ इति विशेषण-समासान्तर्गत

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Koṭīśvara Tīrtha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājendra / Kurunandana

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast assembly of sages and dvijas seated in concentric circles by the river, chanting Vedic benedictions; at the center, an intention is set for Vyāsa’s well-being, with ritual fires and palm-leaf manuscripts present.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Munis
• Dvijas
• Veda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through collective counsel of sages and Vedic auspicious recitation, aimed at the welfare of the righteous.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The context continues Koṭīśvara Tīrtha, where sages gather and perform sanctifying acts.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Consultation by sages and performance of Vedic maṅgala-pāṭha (auspicious Vedic recitations) as part of a sacred undertaking.