Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

वापीकूपतडागानां कर्तारश्च सहस्रशः । व्रतशीला गुणज्ञाश्च मूर्खा वेदविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

vāpīkūpataḍāgānāṃ kartāraśca sahasraśaḥ | vrataśīlā guṇajñāśca mūrkhā vedavivarjitāḥ

Translation

Par milliers, ils deviennent bâtisseurs de puits à degrés (vāpī), de puits (kūpa) et d’étangs (taḍāga). Ils sont fidèles aux vœux et savent reconnaître la vertu ; pourtant, ils sont dits lourds d’esprit et dépourvus d’étude védique.

Word by Word

• वापी: of wells/stepwells (vāpīs)
• वापी: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• कूप: of wells (kūpas)
• कूप: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• तडागानाम्: of ponds/tanks
• तडागानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कर्तारः: makers/builders
• कर्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृ-शब्द (agent noun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• सहस्रशः: by thousands / in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Pramana (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in thousands)

• व्रतशीला: vow-observing
• व्रतशीला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत + शील (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (व्रते शीलं येषाम्/व्रतशीलाः)

• गुणज्ञाः: knowers of virtues/qualities
• गुणज्ञाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुणान् जानन्ति)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• मूर्खाः: foolish
• मूर्खाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदविवर्जिताः: devoid of the Veda
• वेदविवर्जिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + वि + वर्ज् (धातु) → विवर्जित (कृदन्त) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदेन विवर्जिताः/वेदविहीनाः)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice addressing a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kund/ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A bustling civic-religious scene: artisans and donors constructing a stepwell and tank; pilgrims drawing water; vow-observant donors; a subtle note of rustic simplicity despite lack of Vedic learning.

Characters & Entities

• Vāpī
• Kūpa
• Taḍāga
• Veda
• Vrata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Public welfare and vow-keeping are praised, but the text also stresses the importance of grounding virtue in sacred knowledge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named; the verse highlights dharmic acts that support pilgrims and communities (waterworks).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (vows/observances) and the dharmic merit of constructing water facilities like wells, ponds, and stepwells.