Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 160

Devanagari script

दाम्पत्यमेकं विधिवत्प्रतिपूज्य शुभव्रतैः । द्वितीयं गुरुदाम्पत्यं वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

dāmpatyamekaṃ vidhivatpratipūjya śubhavrataiḥ | dvitīyaṃ gurudāmpatyaṃ vittaśāṭhyaṃ vivarjayet

Translation

ശുഭവ്രതങ്ങളാൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ഒരു ദിവ്യ ദാമ്പത്യത്തെ പൂജിച്ച ശേഷം, രണ്ടാമതായി ഗുരു-ദാമ്പത്യത്തെയും പൂജിക്കണം; ഈ അർപ്പണങ്ങളിൽ ധനകാര്യത്തിൽ വഞ്ചനയോ കൃപണതയോ ഒഴിവാക്കണം।

Word by Word

• dāmpatyam: married life/union of spouses
• dāmpatyam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāmpatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• ekam: one/first
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• vidhivat: according to rule
• vidhivat: Prakāra (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-vat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); प्रकारवाचक

• pratipūjya: having duly honored
• pratipūjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati-√pūj (धातु) → pratipūjya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• śubha-vrataiḥ: with auspicious vows/observances
• śubha-vrataiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (शुभानि व्रतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचनम्

• dvitīyam: second
• dvitīyam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• guru-dāmpatyam: the guru-related marital bond (i.e., relation with guru as sacred)
• guru-dāmpatyam: Karma (Object/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + dāmpatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः दाम्पत्यम्/गुरुसम्बद्धं दाम्पत्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• vitta-śāṭhyam: deceit regarding wealth
• vitta-śāṭhyam: Karma (Object to be avoided)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + śāṭhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (वित्ते शाठ्यम्/वित्तसम्बद्धं शाठ्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vṛj (धातु) / √vṛj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced: Āvantya Khaṇḍa narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: First, a shrine with Śiva and Pārvatī receiving offerings; second, the disciple turns to honor the seated guru and guru-patnī with equal reverence; a symbolic scale or open palm indicates honesty in wealth.

Characters & Entities

• divine couple (dāmpatya)
• guru-dāmpatya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual merit depends on integrity—worship and charity must be free from financial deceit or stinginess.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is primarily about vrata-ethics and guru-honor within the Revā Khaṇḍa setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Worship the divine pair first, then honor the guru-pair; do not practice vitta-śāṭhya in offerings.