Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

ततस्ते सर्वमादाय भृत्या भोज्यं ददुस्तथा । एकैकस्य पृथक्त्वेन प्रतिपत्तिपुरःसरम्

Transliteration

tataste sarvamādāya bhṛtyā bhojyaṃ dadustathā | ekaikasya pṛthaktvena pratipattipuraḥsaram

Translation

Alors ces serviteurs, prenant toutes choses, servirent la nourriture comme il convenait, à chacun séparément, précédée des honneurs dus et d’un ordre bien établi.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; Pronoun nominative plural

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वकाल; Absolutive (having taken)

• भृत्याः: the servants
• भृत्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• भोज्यम्: food (to be eaten)
• भोज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् धातु से निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• ददुः: gave
• ददुः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Perfect 3rd pl

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (likewise)

• एकैकस्य: of each (person)
• एकैकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (एक-एक = each one)

• पृथक्त्वेन: separately / individually
• पृथक्त्वेन: Kriya-visheshana (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथक्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (as a manner)

• प्रतिपत्तिपुरःसरम्: with due propriety / according to proper procedure
• प्रतिपत्तिपुरःसरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिपत्ति + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (प्रतिपत्ति-पुरःसर = शिष्टाचार/विधि-पूर्वक)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ten thousand attendants distribute food in an orderly manner: each diner receives a separate portion; supervisors ensure etiquette; vessels and seating are arranged with ceremonial respect.

Characters & Entities

• bhṛtya (attendants)
• varūthinī (implied army/retinue)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma is expressed through meticulous hospitality—serving each guest with dignity and care.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha setting is implicit within the Tīrthamāhātmya section; this verse itself does not name the site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A dharmic practice is implied: feeding guests/retinues respectfully (anna-dāna and seva-like conduct).