Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

गूढस्वाध्यायतपसो ब्राह्मणाः शंसितव्रताः । विद्यास्नाता व्रतस्नाता अनपाश्रित्य जीविनः

Transliteration

gūḍhasvādhyāyatapaso brāhmaṇāḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ | vidyāsnātā vratasnātā anapāśritya jīvinaḥ

Translation

Brāhmaṇas, whose self-study and austerity are inward and restrained, are praised for their vows. Bathed in sacred knowledge and bathed in discipline, they live without dependence on others.

Word by Word

• गूढस्वाध्यायतपसः: whose self-study and austerity are concealed
• गूढस्वाध्यायतपसः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gūḍha + svādhyāya + tapas (गूढ + स्वाध्याय + तपस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (गूढः स्वाध्यायः तपश्च येषाम्/येषां = having hidden study and austerity; used adjectivally)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शंसितव्रताः: of praised vows
• शंसितव्रताः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṃsita + vrata (शंसित + व्रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थ (शंसितं व्रतं येषाम् = whose vows are praised/commended)

• विद्यास्नाताः: learned (bathed in knowledge)
• विद्यास्नाताः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyā + snāta (विद्या + स्नात; √snā/स्ना + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (विद्यायां स्नाताः = bathed/immersed in knowledge; i.e., learned)

• व्रतस्नाताः: disciplined in vows
• व्रतस्नाताः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrata + snāta (व्रत + स्नात; √snā/स्ना + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्रते स्नाताः = bathed in vows; well-disciplined)

• अनपाश्रित्य: without resorting to (dependence on)
• अनपाश्रित्य: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: an-apa-ā-√śri (अन् + अप + आ + √श्रि)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having not resorted to’; उपसर्गयुक्त धातु

• जीविनः: living (independently)
• जीविनः: Karta (predicate/description)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √jīv/जीव् + इनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इनि-प्रत्ययान्त (one who lives)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the assembled sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of serene brāhmaṇas sits near the coastal tīrtha: some recite Veda softly, others meditate; their simplicity contrasts with the vast sea, symbolizing inward depth and self-sufficiency.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Svādhyāya
• Tapas
• Vrata
• Vidyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharmic authority is shown through inward austerity, lifelong learning, and disciplined independence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching occurs within the Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya, framing Prabhāsa-kṣetra as a dharma-centered sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly, the ideals of svādhyāya (study/recitation) and vrata (observances) are upheld, though no single named ritual is commanded.