Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

द्वितीयेऽह्नि पुनर्विप्रमाहूय नृपसत्तमः । संपूज्य विधिवद्भक्त्या वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः

Transliteration

dvitīye'hni punarvipramāhūya nṛpasattamaḥ | saṃpūjya vidhivadbhaktyā vastrālaṃkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

On the second day, the best of kings again summoned the brāhmaṇa and, with devotion and according to the prescribed rite, honored him with garments, ornaments, and adornments.

Word by Word

• द्वितीये: on the second
• द्वितीये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (अह्नि इति पदस्य)

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Modifier (अव्यय-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• विप्रम्: the Brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Purvakala (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• नृपसत्तमः: best of kings
• नृपसत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नृपाणां सत्तमः)

• संपूज्य: having duly honored
• संपूज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Modifier (अव्यय-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्

• वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः: with garments, ornaments, and jewelry
• वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + अलंकार + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (वस्त्राणि च अलंकाराः च भूषणानि च)

Speaker

Sūta (contextual attribution within Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king in court summons the brāhmaṇa on the second day, performs respectful worship, and presents garments and ornaments; attendants hold trays of cloth and jewelry; the brāhmaṇa stands modestly.

Characters & Entities

• nṛpasattama (best king)
• vipra (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma is threatened, one responds with renewed sincerity—devotion (bhakti) and proper procedure (vidhi) restore righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā’s māhātmya setting frames the king’s exemplary conduct as part of the sacred culture of the place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Formal honoring (saṃpūjā) of a brāhmaṇa with vastra and ornaments, performed vidhivat (as per prescribed norms).