Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

श्रीमातादात्त्रयीविद्यां लोके सर्वे द्विजोत्तमाः । षट्त्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि वैश्या धर्मपरायणाः

Transliteration

śrīmātādāttrayīvidyāṃ loke sarve dvijottamāḥ | ṣaṭtriṃśacca sahasrāṇi vaiśyā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

ಶ್ರೀಮಾತೆ ತ್ರಯೀ‑ವಿದ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ದತ್ತಳಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ; ಈ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ದ್ವಿಜೋತ್ತಮರೆಂದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರು. ಇನ್ನೂ ಧರ್ಮಪರಾಯಣರಾದ ಮുപ്പತ್ತಾರು ಸಾವಿರ ವೈಶ್ಯರೂ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• श्रीमाता: the venerable Mother
• श्रीमाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दात्: gave
• दात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रयीविद्याम्: the threefold Vedic knowledge
• त्रयीविद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः त्रयी + विद्या

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः द्विजानाम् उत्तमाः

• षट्त्रिंशत्: thirty-six
• षट्त्रिंशत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-समासः (36); अत्र विशेषणरूपेण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• वैश्याः: vaiśyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• धर्मपरायणाः: devoted to dharma
• धर्मपरायणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः धर्मे परायणः (devoted to dharma)

Speaker

Śrī Mātā (context continues)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śrī Rāma

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Mother is shown in a benevolent aspect ‘bestowing’ trayī-vidyā upon brāhmaṇas, while nearby prosperous yet modest vaiśyas offer grains, cloth, and coins for dharma—depicting a functioning pilgrimage economy.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mātā
• dvijottama
• Vaiśya
• trayī-vidyā
• dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is sustained by both sacred knowledge (Vedic learning) and righteous livelihood (Vaiśyas devoted to dharma).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is depicted as a divinely nurtured dharmic settlement where learning and righteous conduct flourish.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is prescribed; the verse highlights the Mother’s role in establishing Vedic learning and dharmic social support.