Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 89

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाश्च कृतस्थाना नानाधर्मोपदेशनैः । समुद्धरंति वर्णांस्त्रींस्ततः पूज्यतमा द्विजाः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāśca kṛtasthānā nānādharmopadeśanaiḥ | samuddharaṃti varṇāṃstrīṃstataḥ pūjyatamā dvijāḥ

Translation

Les brāhmaṇas, dûment établis, relèvent les trois varṇa par de multiples enseignements du dharma ; c’est pourquoi les deux-fois-nés (dvija) sont les plus dignes d’honneur.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृतस्थानाḥ: having established (their) seats/positions
• कृतस्थानाḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतस्थान (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + स्थान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'having established positions/settled'

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विविधार्थक

• धर्मोपदेशनैः: by teachings of dharma
• धर्मोपदेशनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मोपदेश (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + उपदेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• समुद्धरन्ति: they uplift/rescue
• समुद्धरन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; parasmaipada

• वर्णान्: classes/varṇas
• वर्णान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• ततः: therefore/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Consequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तस्मात्/अतः अर्थे

• पूज्यतमाः: most worthy of worship
• पूज्यतमाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्यतम (प्रातिपदिक; पूज्य + तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; superlative adjective

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teaching assembly: established brāhmaṇas seated on a dais instructing representatives of the three varṇas; listeners show reverence; manuscripts, yajñopavīta, and ritual implements signal authority.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Varṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is preserved through teaching; learned brāhmaṇas guide society and are honored for their role in uplift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse focuses on dharma-instruction and social guidance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Honor and support dharma-teachers (dvijas) so that dharmic instruction can continue for the benefit of all.