Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

वापीकूपतडागानां कर्तारश्च सहस्रशः । व्रतशीला गुणज्ञाश्च मूर्खा वेदविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

vāpīkūpataḍāgānāṃ kartāraśca sahasraśaḥ | vrataśīlā guṇajñāśca mūrkhā vedavivarjitāḥ

Translation

By the thousands they become builders of stepwells (vāpī), wells (kūpa), and tanks (taḍāga). They are disciplined in vows and appreciative of virtue—yet are described as dull-witted and deprived of Vedic learning.

Word by Word

• वापी: of wells/stepwells (vāpīs)
• वापी: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• कूप: of wells (kūpas)
• कूप: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• तडागानाम्: of ponds/tanks
• तडागानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कर्तारः: makers/builders
• कर्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृ-शब्द (agent noun)

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

• सहस्रशः: by thousands / in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Pramana (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in thousands)

• व्रतशीला: vow-observing
• व्रतशीला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत + शील (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (व्रते शीलं येषाम्/व्रतशीलाः)

• गुणज्ञाः: knowers of virtues/qualities
• गुणज्ञाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुणान् जानन्ति)

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

• मूर्खाः: foolish
• मूर्खाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदविवर्जिताः: devoid of the Veda
• वेदविवर्जिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + वि + वर्ज् (धातु) → विवर्जित (कृदन्त) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदेन विवर्जिताः/वेदविहीनाः)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice addressing a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kund/ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A bustling civic-religious scene: artisans and donors constructing a stepwell and tank; pilgrims drawing water; vow-observant donors; a subtle note of rustic simplicity despite lack of Vedic learning.

Characters & Entities

• Vāpī
• Kūpa
• Taḍāga
• Veda
• Vrata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Public welfare and vow-keeping are praised, but the text also stresses the importance of grounding virtue in sacred knowledge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named; the verse highlights dharmic acts that support pilgrims and communities (waterworks).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (vows/observances) and the dharmic merit of constructing water facilities like wells, ponds, and stepwells.