Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

अर्थवृद्धिकरो व्याजा यज्ञकर्मादिकारकः । दानमध्ययनं चेति वैश्यवृत्तिरुदाहृता

Transliteration

arthavṛddhikaro vyājā yajñakarmādikārakaḥ | dānamadhyayanaṃ ceti vaiśyavṛttirudāhṛtā

Translation

Par le commerce, il accroît les ressources, et accomplit les actes liés au sacrifice (yajña) et autres semblables ; la charité (dāna) et l’étude aussi—telle est proclamée la subsistance du vaiśya.

Word by Word

• अर्थवृद्धिकरः: one who increases wealth/profit
• अर्थवृद्धिकरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अर्थस्य वृद्धिः) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (वृद्धिं करोति)

• व्याजः: interest/usury (as a means of gain)
• व्याजः: Predicate Noun (Vidheyapada/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यज्ञकर्मादिकारकः: performer/arranger of sacrifices, rites, etc.
• यज्ञकर्मादिकारकः: Predicate Noun (Vidheyapada/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञकर्मादीनां कारकः/कर्ता)

• दानम्: giving, charity
• दानम्: Item in Enumeration (Anukramya/अनुक्रम्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अध्ययनम्: study (of scripture)
• अध्ययनम्: Item in Enumeration (Anukramya/अनुक्रम्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + इ (धातु) → अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-paryavasana (Quotation marker/इत्यर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/marker)

• वैश्यवृत्तिः: the occupation/duty of a Vaiśya
• वैश्यवृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैश्यस्य वृत्तिः)

• उदाहृता: is declared/stated
• उदाहृता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कर्मणि-प्रयोगे भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अस्ति) इति अध्याहारः

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A merchant-led yajña-support scene: vaiśya donors provide grains, ghee, and fees; a brāhmaṇa teaches from a manuscript; ledgers and scales symbolize commerce; charity distribution to the needy nearby.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Economic activity is sanctified when linked to yajña-mindedness, learning, and generosity—artha should serve dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it supports the broader purāṇic framework in which tīrtha-worship is sustained by dharmic society.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It references participation in yajña-related works and prescribes dāna (charity) and adhyayana (study).