Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

द्वारकायां विशे षेण सत्कृत्य कृष्णसन्निधौ । अन्नदानं यतीनां तु कौपीनाच्छादनानि च

Transliteration

dvārakāyāṃ viśe ṣeṇa satkṛtya kṛṣṇasannidhau | annadānaṃ yatīnāṃ tu kaupīnācchādanāni ca

Translation

Especially in Dvārakā—having honored them in the very presence of Kṛṣṇa—one should give food to the yatīs (ascetics), and also provide them with kaupīna (loincloths) and coverings (clothes).

Word by Word

• द्वारकायाम्: in Dvārakā
• द्वारकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental used adverbially)

• सत्कृत्य: having honored
• सत्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सत् + कृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having honored)

• कृष्णसन्निधौ: in Krishna's presence
• कृष्णसन्निधौ: Adhikaraṇa (Location/Presence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृष्णस्य सन्निधिः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अन्नदानम्: gift of food
• अन्नदानम्: Karma (Object/Act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अन्नस्य दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यतीनाम्: of ascetics
• यतीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive: of/for)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कौपीनाच्छादनानि: loincloths and coverings
• कौपीनाच्छादनानि: Karma (Object/Items)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौपीन + आच्छादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (कौपीनानि च आच्छादनानि च → कौपीनाच्छादनानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Pitṛs (continuing the pitṛ-voice across the sequence)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within Dvārakā’s temple precinct, ascetics are welcomed with reverence; devotees offer bowls of food and folded cloth, with Kṛṣṇa’s shrine visible behind them.

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Yatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Serving renunciants with food and clothing in Kṛṣṇa’s sacred city is portrayed as especially meritorious.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā, described as Kṛṣṇa’s abode/presence (kṛṣṇa-sannidhi).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Annadāna (food charity) and vastra/ācchādana-dāna (clothing/covering) to yatīs, performed with respectful honoring (satkāra).