Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

पालयामास धर्मेण धरां सागरमेखलाम् । अयष्ट स सुरान्यज्ञै र्ब्राह्मणानन्नसंचयैः

Transliteration

pālayāmāsa dharmeṇa dharāṃ sāgaramekhalām | ayaṣṭa sa surānyajñai rbrāhmaṇānannasaṃcayaiḥ

Translation

Il gouverna selon le dharma la terre ceinte par l’océan. Il honora les dieux par des yajñas et soutint les brāhmaṇas par d’abondantes réserves de nourriture.

Word by Word

• पालयामास: protected / ruled
• पालयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पाल् (धातु √पाल्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; परिप्रयोग: परस्मैपदी-लिट् (आमास-प्रयोग)

• धर्मेण: by righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धराम्: the earth
• धराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सागरमेखलाम्: girdled by the ocean
• सागरमेखलाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक) + मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: 'सागरः मेखला यस्याः सा'

• अयष्ट: performed sacrifice
• अयष्ट: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु √यज्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• स: he
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यज्ञैः: with sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अन्नसंचयैः: with stores/collections of food
• अन्नसंचयैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + संचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'अन्नस्य संचयैः'

Speaker

Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: King Manojava as an ideal ruler: seated in court dispensing justice; scenes of yajña with fire altars; granaries and food distribution to brāhmaṇas and the needy.

Characters & Entities

• Manojava
• Devas
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Righteous governance expresses itself through protection, sacrifice, and nourishment of the learned—dharma in action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the lead-in legend connected to Maṅgala-tīrtha; it sets the dharmic background of the king.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performance of yajñas for the gods and anna-dāna/support to brāhmaṇas.