Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

तदा वै तमसाविष्टः सोऽधिकं ब्राह्मणः शुभः । पूजामनर्घ्यामन्विच्छञ्जगाम कुपितो गृहम्

Transliteration

tadā vai tamasāviṣṭaḥ so'dhikaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ śubhaḥ | pūjāmanarghyāmanvicchañjagāma kupito gṛham

Translation

Alors, saisi par le tamas, cet éminent brāhmane pourtant de bon augure (Dakṣa), en quête d’honneurs incomparables, rentra chez lui, courroucé.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/उपपादक अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• तमसा: by darkness, by gloom
• तमसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आविष्टः: overcome, possessed
• आविष्टः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/Predicate adjective of सः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आविष्ट’ = possessed/overcome

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अधिकम्: excessively, more
• अधिकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial: excessively/more)

• ब्राह्मणः: the brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभः: auspicious, noble
• शुभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—ब्राह्मणः/सः

• पूजाम्: worship, honouring
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of अन्विच्छन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनर्घ्याम्: priceless, most valuable
• अनर्घ्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—पूजाम्

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking
• अन्विच्छन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, agreeing with सः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seeking’

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कुपितः: angry
• कुपितः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावविशेषणम्—सः

• गृहम्: to (his) house
• गृहम्: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (within Īśvara’s discourse context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dakṣa, shadowed by tamas, turns away from a sacrificial or formal setting and strides home with clenched jaw, attendants watching; the atmosphere is heavy, dusk-like, signaling the rise of anger and pride.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When tamas dominates, even social virtue turns into pride and anger; seeking honor corrupts dharmic behavior.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is directly praised; the verse supports the moral arc within Vastrāpathakṣetra Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it critiques obsession with receiving worship rather than giving it.