Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 120

Devanagari script

एवमन्वयविद्याभ्यां वृत्तेन च समुच्छ्रिताः । त्रिशुक्लानाम विप्रेंद्राः पूज्यन्ते सवनादिषु

Transliteration

evamanvayavidyābhyāṃ vṛttena ca samucchritāḥ | triśuklānāma vipreṃdrāḥ pūjyante savanādiṣu

Translation

Thus elevated by noble lineage and learning, and by exemplary conduct, the foremost Brāhmaṇas of the Triśukla class are honored in rites such as the savanas (sacrificial services).

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• anvaya-vidyābhyām: by lineage and learning
• anvaya-vidyābhyām: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anvaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘अन्वयस्य विद्या’ (knowledge of lineage/connection)

• vṛttena: by conduct
• vṛttena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛt-वृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘वृत्त’ = conduct/behavior

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• samucchritāḥ: exalted
• samucchritāḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ud-śrita (प्रातिपदिक; √śri-श्रि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘समुच्छ्रित’ (highly elevated)

• tri-śuklānām: of the three Śuklas
• tri-śuklānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; द्विगुः—‘त्रयः शुक्लाः’ (the three Śuklas; a group name)

• vipra-indrāḥ: chief Brahmins
• vipra-indrāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः’ (chiefs among Brahmins)

• pūjyante: are worshipped/honored
• pūjyante: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• savana-ādiṣu: in savana and other rites
• savana-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: savana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सवने आदिः येषु’ (in savana and other rites/occasions)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Vedic ritual setting at dawn: savana fire altar, priests in white, ladles and soma vessels; a respected brāhmaṇa is offered garlands and arghya; students hold palm-leaf texts; atmosphere of formal reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Triśukla

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual honor is due to those who unite learning with impeccable conduct and dharmic tradition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular sacred geography is named; the context is Vedic ritual settings (savana rites).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Honoring (pūjā/satkāra) of qualified Brāhmaṇas during savana and related sacrificial observances.