Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52
Devanagari script
किमर्थमागता विप्राः किंस्वित्कार्यं ब्रुवंतु तत्
Transliteration
kimarthamāgatā viprāḥ kiṃsvitkāryaṃ bruvaṃtu tat
Translation
«Dans quel but êtes-vous venus, ô brāhmaṇas ? Quelle affaire est-ce ? Dites-le.»
Word by Word
किम्what
किम्:
Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम
अर्थम्purpose
अर्थम्:
Hetu/Purpose (प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)
आगताःhave come
आगताः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ-√गम् (धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय (finite sense: ‘have come’)
विप्राःbrahmins
विप्राः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन
किम्what
किम्:
Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम
स्वित्indeed/possibly
स्वित्:
Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वित् (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle; emphasis/uncertainty)
कार्यम्task/business
कार्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य (कृदन्त; √कृ + यत्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘to be done’ → ‘business/task’
ब्रुवन्तुlet them say/tell
ब्रुवन्तु:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ब्रू (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
Speaker
King (Rājā)
Skanda Dialogue
Listener: Frame listener addressed as ‘nṛpa’
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Close focus on the king speaking: ‘Why have you come?’ Brāhmaṇas stand attentive, ready to present their case; courtiers lean in, anticipating the petition.
Characters & Entities
V
vipra (brāhmaṇas)K
kingFAQs
Dharma requires that rulers hear petitions and investigate causes—listening is the first step toward justice.
None directly; the verse is part of the Kānyakubja court dialogue.
None.