Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 128
Devanagari script
विद्याधिकं गुरुं वृद्धं कुर्यादेतान्प्रदक्षिणान्
Transliteration
vidyādhikaṃ guruṃ vṛddhaṃ kuryādetānpradakṣiṇān
Translation
One should reverently circumambulate (pradakṣiṇā) those who excel in knowledge, one’s guru, and the venerable elderly.
Word by Word
vidyādhikammore learned
vidyādhikam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootvidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)
gurumteacher
gurum:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootguru (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)
vṛddhamelder
vṛddham:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootvṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); विशेषण
kuryātshould do/should perform
kuryāt:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (कृ, धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)
etānthese
etān:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural); विशेषण—‘प्रदक्षिणान्’ इत्यस्य
pradakṣiṇāncircumambulations
pradakṣiṇān:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)
Speaker
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Inside a temple courtyard, a disciple circumambulates a seated guru and an aged, serene scholar; other pilgrims watch quietly, hands folded; the pradakṣiṇā path is marked with lamps and flowers.
FAQs
Honoring wisdom and age is a dharmic act; reverence to teachers and the learned sustains spiritual culture.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is interpersonal dharma.
Perform pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) for the learned, the guru, and elders.