Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

सा राज्ञी ब्राह्मणान्सर्वानुपविष्टान्वरासने । प्रत्येकमर्चयांचक्रे सपत्नीकान्द्विजोत्तमान्

Transliteration

sā rājñī brāhmaṇānsarvānupaviṣṭānvarāsane | pratyekamarcayāṃcakre sapatnīkāndvijottamān

Translation

The queen, seeing all the brāhmaṇas seated upon excellent seats, worshipped each of those foremost brāhmaṇas individually—together with their wives.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राज्ञी: the queen
• राज्ञी: Apposition (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्ञी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणान्)

• उपविष्टान्: seated
• उपविष्टान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ब्राह्मणान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘उपविष्ट’ = seated

• वरासने: on an excellent seat
• वरासने: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘वरम् आसनम्’

• प्रत्येकम्: each individually
• प्रत्येकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अव्ययीभावः ‘प्रति-एकम्’ = one by one

• अर्चयाम्: worship
• अर्चयाम्: Karma (Internal object with √कृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: णमुल्-प्रत्ययान्त (verbal noun/gerundial in -ām), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘अर्चयाम्’ = worship/adoration (as act)

• चक्रे: did / performed
• चक्रे: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सपत्नीकान्: along with their wives
• सपत्नीकान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of द्विजोत्तमान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘पत्नी सहितान्’

• द्विजोत्तमान्: the best Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तमान्: Karma (Object; appositive to ब्राह्मणान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘उत्तमान् द्विजान्’

Speaker

Narrator

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The queen moves along a row of brāhmaṇas seated on fine āsanas, offering worship to each, including their wives—flowers, sandal, respectful gestures—her posture composed and attentive.

Characters & Entities

• rājñī (queen)
• brāhmaṇāḥ
• dvijottamāḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Reverence to worthy guests and spiritual elders—shown through personal attention and honor—is praised as dharma that sustains auspiciousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No; the verse focuses on palace hospitality rather than a pilgrimage site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pratyekārcana—honoring/worshipping guests individually, including couples (sapatnīka).