Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मर्षिकीर्तयस्वैनं तस्मात्त्वं प्रपितामह । राज्यस्थोऽपि द्विजार्हाणि सत्कृत्यान्य करोदसौ

Transliteration

brahmarṣikīrtayasvainaṃ tasmāttvaṃ prapitāmaha | rājyastho'pi dvijārhāṇi satkṛtyānya karodasau

Translation

«C’est pourquoi, ô Prāpitāmaha (Brahmā, l’Aïeul suprême), proclame-le Brahmarṣi. Même établi dans la royauté, il accomplit des honneurs et des actes de vénération dignes des dvija, les deux-fois-nés.»

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मर्षि: (as) a brahmarṣi
• ब्रह्मर्षि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.) (कर्मपद); तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ ṛṣiḥ)

• कीर्तयस्व: proclaim, call (him)
• कीर्तयस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय् (धातु, णिजन्त from कीर्त्/कीर्तयति)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति तद्धित-प्रयोगवत्; हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाव-प्राय (ablatival adverb): ‘therefore/from that reason’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• प्रपितामह: O great-grandfather
• प्रपितामह: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; संबोधन एकवचन (Voc. sg.)

• राज्यस्थः: situated in kingship, ruling
• राज्यस्थः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.); सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (rājye sthitaḥ)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक (particle): ‘even/also’

• द्विजार्हाणि: things/acts worthy of brāhmaṇas
• द्विजार्हाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.); तत्पुरुषः (dvijānām arhāṇi)

• सत्कृत्यानि: honourable acts, proper observances
• सत्कृत्यानि: Karma (Object apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.); कर्मधारयः ‘सत् कृत्यं’ (proper/honourable acts)

• करोतु: let (him) do
• करोतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• असौ: that person (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

Speaker

Unspecified in snippet (contextual: a sage addressing Brahmā within the Tīrthamāhātmya narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā is invoked as Prāpitāmaha; a royal figure (Viśvāmitra) in courtly setting performs reverential honors to brāhmaṇas—offering seats, water, gifts—while sages witness and acclaim him as Brahmarṣi.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Brahmarṣi
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa class)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True spiritual rank is affirmed by dharma—especially reverence and rightful honoring of the worthy—regardless of worldly station.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya flow that later points to the Anarta region near Hāṭakeśvara and Śaṅkhatīrtha, though this specific line stresses moral qualification rather than a site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Honoring the twice-born (satkāra of brāhmaṇas)—a dhārmic act akin to hospitality, gifts, and respectful service.