Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

स्वदारनिरतैः शान्तैः परदारविवर्जकैः । वेदाभ्यसनशीलैश्च स्वकर्मनिरतैः शुभैः

Transliteration

svadāranirataiḥ śāntaiḥ paradāravivarjakaiḥ | vedābhyasanaśīlaiśca svakarmanirataiḥ śubhaiḥ

Translation

(ശ്രാദ്ധം) സ്വധർമ്മപത്നിയിൽ നിഷ്ഠയുള്ളവരും ശാന്തസ്വഭാവികളുമായും പരസ്ത്രീവിവർജിതരുമായും വേദാധ്യയനത്തിൽ നിരതരുമായും സ്വകർത്തവ്യകർമ്മത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരരുമായ ശുഭാചാര ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരാൽ നടത്തിക്കൊള്ളണം.

Word by Word

• स्वदारनिरतैः: devoted to their own wives
• स्वदारनिरतैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + दार + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘स्वदारे निरत’ (devoted to one’s own wife); विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणैः इत्यादि)

• शान्तैः: peaceful
• शान्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘शान्तैः’ (peaceful)

• परदारविवर्जकैः: avoiding others’ wives
• परदारविवर्जकैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + दार + विवर्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘परदारेभ्यः विवर्जक’ (avoiding others’ wives)

• वेदाभ्यसनशीलैः: habitually studying the Vedas
• वेदाभ्यसनशीलैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + अभ्यास + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘वेदाभ्यासे शील’ (habitually studying the Vedas)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-बोधक) — ‘and’

• स्वकर्मनिरतैः: engaged in their own duties
• स्वकर्मनिरतैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + कर्मन् + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘स्वकर्मणि निरत’ (engaged in one’s own duties)

• शुभैः: virtuous, auspicious
• शुभैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘शुभैः’ (good/auspicious), विशेषणम् (पूर्वोक्तानां)

Speaker

Unspecified (continuing the śrāddha qualification criteria)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pāṇḍava

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of serene brāhmaṇas sit in a clean enclosure by the river, holding Vedic manuscripts; their demeanor is restrained and peaceful, indicating moral fitness for śrāddha.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Veda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual gains power through moral integrity—purity of conduct and adherence to dharma qualify one to mediate sacred rites.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse remains within the Revākhaṇḍa tīrtha setting; the emphasis is on proper śrāddha procedure at that sacred place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Selection of qualified brāhmaṇas for śrāddha based on ethical and Vedic qualifications.