Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

ततः समीपगा वृद्धा तस्य वृन्दस्य भारत । स्वाध्यायनिरता विप्रा दृष्टास्तैः पापकर्मभिः

Transliteration

tataḥ samīpagā vṛddhā tasya vṛndasya bhārata | svādhyāyaniratā viprā dṛṣṭāstaiḥ pāpakarmabhiḥ

Translation

Alors, ô Bhārata, cette vieille femme s’approcha de ce groupe. Les brāhmanes, voués à l’étude des Veda, furent aperçus par ces auteurs d’actes mauvais.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम्' (from there/thereafter)

• समीपगा: having come near; nearby
• समीपगा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय, गम्-धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (समास: समीपं गता = near-going/nearby)

• वृद्धा: an old (woman)
• वृद्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृन्दस्य: of the group
• वृन्दस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• स्वाध्यायनिरता: devoted to Vedic study
• स्वाध्यायनिरता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (समास: स्वाध्याये निरता = devoted to self-study)

• विप्रा: a brahmin woman
• विप्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (विप्र-शब्दः स्त्रीलिङ्गे 'विप्रा')

• दृष्टाः: were seen
• दृष्टाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग), प्रथमा बहुवचन; 'दृष्टाः' = were seen (past passive participle used predicatively)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पापकर्मभिः: by sinful deeds / by evil-doers
• पापकर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समास: पापं कर्म = sinful deeds

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) [deduced]

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā/Narmadā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhārata (addressed as ‘O Bhārata’)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An aged woman approaches a gathered group; nearby stand brāhmaṇas absorbed in Vedic recitation, while shadowed wrongdoers watch them, uneasy in the riverbank light.

Characters & Entities

• Viprāḥ (brāhmaṇas)
• Bhārata (addressed listener)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse contrasts svādhyāya and purity with sinful intent, underscoring the protective power of dharmic discipline.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The episode remains situated in the Ādityeśvara-tīrtha setting of the Revā Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Svādhyāya (Vedic recitation/study) is highlighted as an ongoing dharmic practice, though no specific vow is prescribed.