Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

विद्यागोष्ठीषु धर्म्यासु क्वचिन्मा भूः पराङ्मुखः । शुचौ पुण्यजलस्यांते प्रख्याते ब्रह्मसंकुले

Transliteration

vidyāgoṣṭhīṣu dharmyāsu kvacinmā bhūḥ parāṅmukhaḥ | śucau puṇyajalasyāṃte prakhyāte brahmasaṃkule

Translation

法にかなう学びの集いにおいて、決して背を向けるな。清浄なる地、聖なる水のほとり、名高くブラーフマナの満ちる所に身を置け。

Word by Word

• विद्यागोष्ठीषु: in learned assemblies
• विद्यागोष्ठीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + गोष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; (विद्यायाः गोष्ठी)

• धर्म्यासु: righteous
• धर्म्यासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying विद्यागोष्ठीषु)

• क्वचित्: ever/at any time
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (at any time/anywhere)

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक निपात (prohibitive particle)

• भूः: be (do not become)
• भूः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative) निषेधार्थे (prohibitive with मा), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पराङ्मुखः: turned away/averse
• पराङ्मुखः: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (पराङ् मुखं यस्य)

• शुचौ: in a pure (place)
• शुचौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ānte/स्थाने)

• पुण्यजलस्य: of holy water
• पुण्यजलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; (पुण्यं जलम्)

• अन्ते: at the bank/end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• प्रख्याते: renowned
• प्रख्याते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मसंकुले: crowded with Brahmins/learned men
• ब्रह्मसंकुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; (ब्रह्मणा/ब्रह्मविद्भिः संकुलम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Puṇya-jala-taṭa (generic sacred riverbank)

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A famed riverbank with ghāṭ steps: Brahmins recite Veda, a dharma-assembly convenes under a canopy, students with manuscripts; the seeker approaches, never turning away.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seek dharmic learning and keep company with the learned; choose pure environments near sacred waters that support spiritual life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A general tīrtha setting is implied (holy waters and their banks), but no named location appears in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite; it implicitly endorses tīrtha-sevā and śravaṇa/participation in dharmic learning gatherings.