Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

सहस्रजिच्च राजर्षिः प्राणानिष्टान्महायशाः । ब्राह्मणार्थे परित्यज्य गतो लोकाननुत्तमान्

Transliteration

sahasrajicca rājarṣiḥ prāṇāniṣṭānmahāyaśāḥ | brāhmaṇārthe parityajya gato lokānanuttamān

Translation

Sahasrajit, the illustrious royal sage, renounced even his beloved life for the sake of the Brāhmaṇas, and thus went to unsurpassed worlds.

Word by Word

• सहस्रजित्: Sahasrajit (name)
• सहस्रजित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्रजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सहस्रं जयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• राजर्षिः: royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—राजा चासौ ऋषिश्च (कर्मधारयः)

• प्राणान्: life-breaths; life
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इष्टान्: dear, cherished
• इष्टान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying प्राणान्)

• महायशाः: greatly renowned
• महायशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महत् यशः यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहिः)

• ब्राह्मणार्थे: for the sake of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणार्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—ब्राह्मणस्य अर्थः (तत्पुरुषः); अर्थे = ‘for the sake of’ (locative of purpose)

• परित्यज्य: having given up
• परित्यज्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having abandoned/sacrificed’

• गतः: went
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Main predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone’

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अनुत्तमान्: unsurpassed, supreme
• अनुत्तमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying लोकान्)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Royal sage Sahasrajit offers his very life for the sake of brāhmaṇas—depicted as a solemn act of protection or ransom—followed by a celestial ascent to unsurpassed worlds.

Characters & Entities

• Sahasrajit
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The peak of dāna is self-offering—placing dharma and service above one’s own life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse praises the dharmic ideal of supreme giving.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual; it exemplifies brāhmaṇārtha-tyāga—renunciation for the welfare of the righteous.