Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

चतुर्वेदा द्विजाः सर्वे क्षत्रिया युद्धकोविदाः । गोषु सेवापरा वैश्याः शूद्राः शुश्रूषणे रताः

Transliteration

caturvedā dvijāḥ sarve kṣatriyā yuddhakovidāḥ | goṣu sevāparā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣaṇe ratāḥ

Translation

Tous les dvija maîtrisaient les quatre Veda ; les Kṣatriya étaient experts dans l’art de la guerre ; les Vaiśya se vouaient au service et à la garde des vaches ; et les Śūdra se réjouissaient d’un service fidèle.

Word by Word

• चतुर्वेदाः: knowers of the four Vedas
• चतुर्वेदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘चत्वारः वेदाः येषाम्/चतुर्वेदविदः’ (चार वेदों के ज्ञाता)

• द्विजाः: Brahmins/twice-born
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• क्षत्रियाः: Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• युद्धकोविदाः: skilled in war
• युद्धकोविदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘युद्धे कोविदाः’

• गोषु: among/with cows
• गोषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• सेवापराः: devoted to service
• सेवापराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेवा + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सेवायां पराः’ = devoted to service

• वैश्याः: Vaishyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शुश्रूषणे: in service/attendance
• शुश्रूषणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• रताः: engaged, devoted
• रताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम् (धातु) → रत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘आसक्ताः/निरताः’

Speaker

Sārasvata (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic civic tableau: Brahmins reciting Veda, Kshatriyas practicing archery and swordplay, Vaishyas tending cattle in lush pastures, Shudras engaged in attentive service—harmonious, dignified, and serene.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is portrayed as social harmony—each group performing its responsibilities, sustaining stability and collective well-being.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching is embedded in the Vastrāpathakṣetra Māhātmya (Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa), which frames dhārmic order as part of the kṣetra’s sacred narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite; the verse emphasizes duties (dharma) such as Veda-learning and go-sevā.