Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

सुरूपाश्च सदाचाराः सर्वधर्मेषु निष्ठिताः । दानधर्म्मरताः सर्वे अत्रजा जलदा द्विजाः

Transliteration

surūpāśca sadācārāḥ sarvadharmeṣu niṣṭhitāḥ | dānadharmmaratāḥ sarve atrajā jaladā dvijāḥ

Translation

They are handsome and of good conduct, steadfast in all forms of dharma. All these twice-born, born in this place, delight in the dharma of giving—like rain-bearing clouds.

Word by Word

• सुरूपाः: handsome, of good form
• सुरूपाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-रूप = शोभनरूप)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• सदाचाराः: of good conduct
• सदाचाराः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सदाचार = उत्तमाचार)

• सर्वधर्मेषु: in all dharmas/duties
• सर्वधर्मेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषु धर्मेषु)

• निष्ठिताः: steadfast, established
• निष्ठिताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + स्था (धातु) + क्त → निष्ठित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• दानधर्म्मरताः: devoted to the dharma of giving
• दानधर्म्मरताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान + धर्म + रत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम् (धातु) से क्त/निष्ठा-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (दानधर्मे रताः = devoted to charity as dharma)

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अत्रजाः: born here
• अत्रजाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्र + ज (प्रातिपदिक; 'ज' = born)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अत्र जाताḥ = born here)

• जलदाः: Jaladā (a clan/name; lit. cloud-givers)
• जलदाः: Apposition (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (उपनाम/कुलनाम)

• द्विजाः: Brahmins, twice-born
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dvijas distributing gifts—grain, cloth, water—while monsoon clouds gather above, visually merging donors with rain-clouds; villagers receive with folded hands.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity (dāna) is celebrated as a hallmark of dharma, making the righteous nourish society like clouds that give rain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is praised indirectly by extolling the virtues of those born there (atrajāḥ).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna-dharma—active commitment to charitable giving.