Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

यज्ञसंरक्षणार्थाय राज्ञा दत्तौ कुमारकौ । धनुःशरधरौ वीरौ पितुर्वचनपालकौ

Transliteration

yajñasaṃrakṣaṇārthāya rājñā dattau kumārakau | dhanuḥśaradharau vīrau piturvacanapālakau

Translation

For the protection of the yajña, the king entrusted the two princes—heroic bearers of bow and arrows—steadfast guardians of their father’s command.

Word by Word

• यज्ञसंरक्षणार्थाय: for the purpose of protecting the sacrifice
• यज्ञसंरक्षणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient sense/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + संरक्षण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ दत्तिः (purpose dative)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• दत्तौ: given (handed over)
• दत्तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• कुमारकौ: the two boys/princes
• कुमारकौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• धनुःशरधरौ: bearing bow and arrows
• धनुःशरधरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् + शर + धर (प्रातिपदिक; धृ-धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• वीरौ: two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वचनपालकौ: keepers of (their) father's word
• वचनपालकौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वचन + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator within Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa; specific speaker not explicit in snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Yajña-sthāna (Viśvāmitra-yajña)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa stand vigilant at the edge of a sacrificial enclosure—fire altar glowing, sages chanting—bows ready, eyes alert, embodying disciplined heroism.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• the King (Daśaratha, implied)
• Viśvāmitra
• Yajña

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kṣatriya-dharma includes protecting sacred rites and supporting rishis; righteousness is expressed as service to yajña and truthfulness to one’s father’s word.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it frames a dharma-centered episode tied to the protection of a yajña.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The ritual context is the safeguarding of a yajña; no detailed prescription (snāna, dāna, japa) is stated in this line.