Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

स्थानधर्मात्प्रचलिता वाडवास्ते समागताः । नृपो विज्ञापितो विप्रैस्तैरेवं क्लेशकारिभिः

Transliteration

sthānadharmātpracalitā vāḍavāste samāgatāḥ | nṛpo vijñāpito vipraistairevaṃ kleśakāribhiḥ

Translation

そのヴァーダヴァ（Vāḍava）たちは、己の地にふさわしいダルマから逸れて集まり合った。彼らのもたらす苦患について、ブラーフマナたちが王に奏上した。

Word by Word

• स्थानधर्मात्: from the local custom/duty
• स्थानधर्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्थानस्य धर्मः = local/customary duty)

• प्रचलिताः: departed; having moved away
• प्रचलिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + चल् (धातु) → प्रचलित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'departed/moved away' sense

• वाडवाः: Vāḍavas (a people/group)
• वाडवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाडव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; जातिवाचक

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• समागताः: assembled; came together
• समागताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + गम् (धातु) → समागत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; arrived/assembled

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karma (Object in passive/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विज्ञापितः: was informed
• विज्ञापितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा + पि (causative base) / विज्ञाप् (धातु) → विज्ञापित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): was informed

• विप्रैः: by the Brahmins
• विप्रैः: Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• क्लेशकारिभिः: by trouble-causing (people)
• क्लेशकारिभिः: Karana (Agent qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लेश + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्लेशं करोति इति = causing trouble)

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brāhma Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta-style narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group labeled Vāḍavas gathers in agitation; Brāhmaṇas approach the king with a formal complaint; the king listens, poised to restore order—suggesting civic tension near a sacred settlement.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• King (nṛpa)
• Vāḍavas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When people abandon the dharma appropriate to a sacred region, disorder follows and righteous governance must restore balance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader Dharmāraṇya sacred region is implied; the verse emphasizes “sthāna-dharma” rather than naming a tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; the focus is on reporting wrongdoing and maintaining dharmic order.