Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 81

Devanagari script

द्विजशुश्रूषया राज्यं द्विजत्वं चातिपुष्कलम् । दिव्यरूपमवाप्नोति देवशुश्रूषया नरः

Transliteration

dvijaśuśrūṣayā rājyaṃ dvijatvaṃ cātipuṣkalam | divyarūpamavāpnoti devaśuśrūṣayā naraḥ

Translation

By devoted service to the twice-born, a person attains kingship and abundant brahminical excellence; by devoted service to the gods, he attains a divine form.

Word by Word

• द्विज-शुश्रूषया: by service to Brahmins
• द्विज-शुश्रूषया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन; समासः: द्विजस्य शुश्रूषा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• द्विजत्वम्: Brahminhood (twice-born status)
• द्विजत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अति-पुष्कलम्: very abundant/excellent
• अति-पुष्कलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying द्विजत्वम्)

• दिव्य-रूपम्: a divine form
• दिव्य-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; समासः: दिव्यं रूपम् (कर्मधारय)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देव-शुश्रूषया: by service to the gods
• देव-शुश्रूषया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन; समासः: देवस्य शुश्रूषा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya didactic narration context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in Prabhāsa respectfully serves a seated brāhmaṇa with folded hands and offerings; nearby, a shrine with devas receives worship, suggesting the twofold fruit—royal prosperity and divine radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Deva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Service (śuśrūṣā) is a powerful dharmic act: honoring the sacred (dvijas and devas) yields elevated results.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction belongs to Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya, presenting service and devotion as fitting practices in the holy field.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Prescribes śuśrūṣā (devoted service) toward dvijas and toward devas as meritorious religious conduct.