Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 18000

Devanagari script

वृत्त्यर्थं तेन दत्ता वै ह्यनर्घ्या रत्नकोटयः । तदा ते मोढ १८००० गोभूजा

Transliteration

vṛttyarthaṃ tena dattā vai hyanarghyā ratnakoṭayaḥ | tadā te moḍha 18000 gobhūjā

Translation

Pour assurer leur subsistance, il leur donna vraiment des crores de joyaux inestimables. Puis, selon une leçon corrompue du texte, il est fait mention de « dix-huit mille », avec des dons de vaches et des concessions de terres.

Word by Word

• वृत्त्यर्थम्: for livelihood/maintenance
• वृत्त्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• तेन: by him/with that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/Agent-instr./करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दत्ताः: given
• दत्ताः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेयविशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Emphasis/Reason (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अनर्घ्याः: priceless
• अनर्घ्याः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• रत्नकोटयः: crores of jewels
• रत्नकोटयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मोढ: (unclear: possibly 'Moḍha' as a vocative/name)
• मोढ: Sambodhana/Unclear (सम्बोधन/अनिश्चित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोढ (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभ्रंश/देश्य-शब्द सम्भाव्य)
• Form: अव्यक्त-रूप; सम्भाव्यतः सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (पाठदोषः)

• १८०००: 18,000
• १८०००: Viśeṣaṇa (Quantifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संख्या (अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• गोभूजाः: (unclear: possibly 'cow-gifts' or 'cows and lands')
• गोभूजाः: Karta/Unclear (कर्ता/अनिश्चित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + भूजा (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; पाठानुसार अर्थ/रूप अनिश्चित

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative continuation; likely Vyāsa within this passage)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A benefactor (Hanumān or patron figure) presents heaps of gems; attendants bring cows; scribes/elders witness land-grant gestures; brāhmaṇas receive with restraint and blessings.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sustaining the righteous through generous dāna—wealth used for dharma becomes a vehicle for puṇya.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Dharmāraṇya sacred region forms the backdrop, but this line is primarily about charitable giving rather than a named pilgrimage spot.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Charity (dāna) is implied—gifting wealth (gems), and likely cows and land, for the support of religious life.