Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 95

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाश्च महात्मानः सत्त्ववंतो गुणान्विताः । तपस्वियोगिनश्चैव वेदवेदांगपारगाः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāśca mahātmānaḥ sattvavaṃto guṇānvitāḥ | tapasviyoginaścaiva vedavedāṃgapāragāḥ

Translation

They are brāhmaṇas of great soul—steadfast in purity, rich in virtues—ascetics and yogins, accomplished in the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महात्मानः: great-souled
• महात्मानः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा येषाम्/महान् आत्मा)

• सत्त्ववन्तः: possessing goodness/strength of character
• सत्त्ववन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्ववत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गुणान्विताः: endowed with virtues
• गुणान्विताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुणैः अन्विताः)

• तपस्वि: ascetics
• तपस्वि: Samahara (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic/limiting particle)

• वेद: Veda
• वेद: Samahara (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद)

• वेदाङ्ग: Vedic auxiliaries (Vedāṅgas)
• वेदाङ्ग: Samahara (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य अङ्गानि)

• पारगाः: having gone to the far shore; masters (of)
• पारगाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic teacher addressing a king; exact speaker not in snippet)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (nṛpottama)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of serene brāhmaṇa sages—some in meditation, some reciting Veda—surround a sacred fire; manuscripts, rosaries, and Vedāṅga tools (e.g., śikṣā/kalpa symbolism) appear as iconographic hints.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇāḥ
• Veda
• Vedāṅga
• Yoga
• Tapas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True spiritual authority is grounded in purity (sattva), disciplined practice (tapas/yoga), and scriptural mastery.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the sanctity of Dharmāraṇya by describing the caliber of its residents rather than naming a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is specified; it praises ongoing Vedic study and ascetic discipline.