Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

विद्यागोष्ठीषु धर्म्यासु क्वचिन्मा भूः पराङ्मुखः । शुचौ पुण्यजलस्यांते प्रख्याते ब्रह्मसंकुले

Transliteration

vidyāgoṣṭhīṣu dharmyāsu kvacinmā bhūḥ parāṅmukhaḥ | śucau puṇyajalasyāṃte prakhyāte brahmasaṃkule

Translation

Dans les assemblées d’étude conformes au dharma, ne te détourne jamais. Demeure en un lieu pur, sur la rive des eaux sacrées, renommé et rempli de brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• विद्यागोष्ठीषु: in learned assemblies
• विद्यागोष्ठीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + गोष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; (विद्यायाः गोष्ठी)

• धर्म्यासु: righteous
• धर्म्यासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying विद्यागोष्ठीषु)

• क्वचित्: ever/at any time
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (at any time/anywhere)

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक निपात (prohibitive particle)

• भूः: be (do not become)
• भूः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative) निषेधार्थे (prohibitive with मा), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पराङ्मुखः: turned away/averse
• पराङ्मुखः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (पराङ् मुखं यस्य)

• शुचौ: in a pure (place)
• शुचौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ānte/स्थाने)

• पुण्यजलस्य: of holy water
• पुण्यजलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; (पुण्यं जलम्)

• अन्ते: at the bank/end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• प्रख्याते: renowned
• प्रख्याते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मसंकुले: crowded with Brahmins/learned men
• ब्रह्मसंकुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; (ब्रह्मणा/ब्रह्मविद्भिः संकुलम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Puṇya-jala-taṭa (generic sacred riverbank)

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A famed riverbank with ghāṭ steps: Brahmins recite Veda, a dharma-assembly convenes under a canopy, students with manuscripts; the seeker approaches, never turning away.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seek dharmic learning and keep company with the learned; choose pure environments near sacred waters that support spiritual life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A general tīrtha setting is implied (holy waters and their banks), but no named location appears in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite; it implicitly endorses tīrtha-sevā and śravaṇa/participation in dharmic learning gatherings.