Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 94

Devanagari script

परान्नेषु सदा तृप्ता अतृप्ताः स्वगृहेषु च । अयाज्ययाजनं कृत्वा कुत्सितस्य प्रतिग्रहम्

Transliteration

parānneṣu sadā tṛptā atṛptāḥ svagṛheṣu ca | ayājyayājanaṃ kṛtvā kutsitasya pratigraham

Translation

Toujours rassasiés par la nourriture d’autrui, mais insatisfaits dans leurs propres demeures — ayant accompli des rites sacerdotaux pour ceux qui n’étaient pas dignes d’être servis, et ayant accepté des dons des ignobles.

Word by Word

• परान्नेषु: in others’ food
• परान्नेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; अधिकरण; समासः (परस्य अन्नम्)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• तृप्ताः: satisfied
• तृप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्त (तृप् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• अतृप्ताः: unsatisfied
• अतृप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतृप्त (तृप् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• स्वगृहेषु: in their own homes
• स्वगृहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; अधिकरण; समासः (स्वस्य गृहम्)

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

• अयाज्ययाजनम्: performing sacrifice for one unfit to be sacrificed for
• अयाज्ययाजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयाज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + याजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म; समासः (अयाज्यस्य याजनम्)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• कुत्सितस्य: of a vile person
• कुत्सितस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुत्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (प्रतिग्रहस्य)

• प्रतिग्रहम्: acceptance (of gifts)
• प्रतिग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (कृत्वा इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Sāvitrī (deduced from immediate context of the adhyāya narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of brāhmaṇas depicted eating rich ‘parānna’ at a patron’s house while their own homes appear neglected; a ritual scene shows them performing yajña for a dubious figure; a dark gift-bag symbolizes ‘kutsita-pratigraha’.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It condemns dependence on others and unethical priestcraft—warning that dharma is harmed by serving the unworthy and accepting tainted gifts.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra (Prabhāsa), presented within the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa’s māhātmya framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A dharmic restriction: do not perform yajña/rituals for the ayājya (unfit patrons) and avoid improper pratigraha (accepting gifts).