Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

गावो विप्राः सनिगमा अलुब्धा दानशीलिनः । सत्यनिष्ठा इति स्वामिंस्तेषां मुख्यतमा सती

Transliteration

gāvo viprāḥ sanigamā alubdhā dānaśīlinaḥ | satyaniṣṭhā iti svāmiṃsteṣāṃ mukhyatamā satī

Translation

“Cows, Brahmins, the Vedas and their tradition, the ungreedy, the charitable, and those established in truth—O Lord, among these, the most eminent is the chaste and faithful wife (Satī).”

Word by Word

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Subject—list item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject—list item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स-निगमाः: together with the Vedas (scriptural)
• स-निगमाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (with the Vedas/scriptures)

• अलुब्धाः: not greedy
• अलुब्धाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दान-शीलिनः: habitually charitable
• दान-शीलिनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + शीलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सत्य-निष्ठाः: steadfast in truth
• सत्य-निष्ठाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative/end marker)

• स्वामिन्: O master
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मुख्यतमा: the most important
• मुख्यतमा: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय; superlative)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; अतिशयवाचक (superlative)

• सती: the virtuous woman (Satī)
• सती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक; ‘good/virtuous woman’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Yama

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śiva

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical tableau: symbols of dharma—cow, Brahmin with Veda, sacrificial fire/śāstra, a donor offering gifts, a figure of Truth—culminating in a radiant satī/pativratā as the crown of virtues, while Yama speaks to Śiva.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Īśa (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇic dharma hierarchy honors protectors of life and truth, culminating in reverence for pativratā integrity as a supreme stabilizing virtue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; this is a dharma-centric valuation of sacred supports of society.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Charity (dāna) is praised as a virtue, but no specific rite is prescribed.