Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

तथा वेदविदो विप्रा यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणाः । गृहस्थाश्रमिणो ये च ये चारण्यनिवासिनः

Transliteration

tathā vedavido viprā yajñakarmavicakṣaṇāḥ | gṛhasthāśramiṇo ye ca ye cāraṇyanivāsinaḥ

Translation

Likewise, Veda-knowing brāhmaṇas skilled in the rites of sacrifice were invited—both those living the householder discipline and those dwelling in the forest.

Word by Word

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेदविदः: Karta/कर्ता (also invited)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विद् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वेदं वेत्ति’ इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• विप्राः: brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Karta/कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणाः: skilled in sacrificial rites
• यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणाः: Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ + कर्म + विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘यज्ञकर्मणि विचक्षणाः’ इति; विशेषण (विप्राः)

• गृहस्थाश्रमिणः: those in the householder stage
• गृहस्थाश्रमिणः: Karta/कर्ता (also invited)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ + आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘गृहस्थ-आश्रमं येषां ते’ (आश्रमिन्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta/कर्ता (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• ये: who
• ये: Karta/कर्ता (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• आरण्यनिवासिनः: forest-dwellers
• आरण्यनिवासिनः: Karta/कर्ता (also invited)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरण्य + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आरण्ये निवसन्ति’ इति

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa style narration within Māhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two groups of brāhmaṇas arrive: gṛhasthas with orderly attire and ritual implements; forest-dwellers with bark garments, jaṭā, and kamaṇḍalu—both welcomed into the yajña space.

Characters & Entities

• Vipras (Brāhmaṇas)
• Veda
• Yajña
• Gṛhasthas
• Āraṇyakas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is supported across āśramas: both disciplined householders and forest-dwellers contribute to the sanctity of yajña.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter, but no particular site is identified in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It highlights competence in yajña procedures, implying adherence to correct Vedic ritual performance.