Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

राजान्नं तेज आदत्ते शूद्रान्नं ब्रह्मवर्चसम् । आयुः सुवर्णकारान्नं यशश्चर्मावकर्तिनः

Transliteration

rājānnaṃ teja ādatte śūdrānnaṃ brahmavarcasam | āyuḥ suvarṇakārānnaṃ yaśaścarmāvakartinaḥ

Translation

La nourriture royale enlève l’éclat ; la nourriture d’un Śūdra enlève la splendeur brahmanique (brahmavarcasa). La nourriture d’un orfèvre enlève la durée de vie ; et la nourriture d’un travailleur du cuir enlève la renommée.

Word by Word

• rājā-annam: king’s food
• rājā-annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rājñaḥ annaṃ)

• tejaḥ: splendour/energy
• tejaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• ādatte: takes away/appropriates
• ādatte: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śūdra-annam: śūdra-food
• śūdra-annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• brahma-varcasam: brahminical lustre/spiritual radiance
• brahma-varcasam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + varcasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ varcasaṃ)

• āyuḥ: lifespan
• āyuḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• suvarṇa-kāra-annam: goldsmith’s food
• suvarṇa-kāra-annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāra (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अन्तिमसमासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (suvarṇakārasya annaṃ); ‘suvarṇakāra’ स्वयं कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-निर्मित व्युत्पत्तिः (‘suvarṇaṃ karoti’)

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• carmāvakartinaḥ: of the leather-worker
• carmāvakartinaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक) + ava-√kṛt (धातु) + in (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन; ‘carmāvakartin’ = ‘चर्म अवकर्तयति’ इति कर्मधारय/उपपद-निर्मित कर्तृवाचक; अत्र षष्ठीसम्बन्धः (…of the leather-cutter)

Speaker

Antyaja (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim at Prabhāsa is instructed by elders on āhāra-śuddhi; symbolic figures representing 'tejas', 'brahmavarcasa', 'āyus', and 'yaśas' fade when improper food is accepted, while a tīrtha-shrine glows in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Rājā (king)
• Śūdra
• Suvarṇakāra (goldsmith)
• Carmāvakartin (leather-worker)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse frames food as spiritually consequential, claiming that certain sources diminish specific forms of vitality, sanctity, lifespan, and reputation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding discourse belongs to Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, situating the teaching within the holiness of Prabhāsa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An implied rule of discernment in accepting food (anna) from particular donors/sources, based on the stated spiritual effects.