Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

कूरबुद्धिरथो वीक्ष्य तदर्थं चामिषं शुभम् । सुसंस्कृतं विधानेन सूपकारैर्द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

kūrabuddhiratho vīkṣya tadarthaṃ cāmiṣaṃ śubham | susaṃskṛtaṃ vidhānena sūpakārairdvijottamāḥ

Translation

Alors l’homme à l’esprit obtus, voyant la belle viande préparée à cette fin—bien apprêtée selon les règles par des cuisiniers habiles—ô meilleur des brahmanes, poursuivit son dessein.

Word by Word

• कूरबुद्धिः: the cruel-minded one
• कूरबुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (cruel + mind)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (connective particle)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having seen/observed’

• तदर्थम्: for that purpose
• तदर्थम्: Karma (Object/purpose-object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (for that purpose)

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

• आमिषम्: meat/flesh
• आमिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभम्: good/choice
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of आमिषम्/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुसंस्कृतम्: well-prepared
• सुसंस्कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of आमिषम्/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + संस्कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण

• विधानेन: by proper procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (Means/method/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सूपकारैः: by cooks
• सूपकारैः: Karana (Instrument/agents as means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (excellent brāhmaṇas)

Speaker

Sūta (continued narration; implied by flow from 34)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: (assembly of sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A scheming figure eyes a lavishly prepared meat dish, noting its careful seasoning and presentation; cooks and vessels suggest ‘proper preparation’ masking an improper intent.

Characters & Entities

• Cooks (sūpakāra)
• Brahmins (dvija)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma can be undermined by cunning intent; outwardly proper arrangements do not sanctify an impure motive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; it advances the moral narrative within the Tīrthamāhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Only culinary preparation “according to rule” is referenced; no explicit vow or tīrtha-rite is prescribed here.