Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

विप्रा वेदविदः शांताः कृतिनः शंसितव्रताः । ज्ञानयज्ञतपोनिष्ठाः शिवभक्तिपरायणाः

Transliteration

viprā vedavidaḥ śāṃtāḥ kṛtinaḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ | jñānayajñataponiṣṭhāḥ śivabhaktiparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

അവർ വേദവിദ്യയിൽ പ്രാവീണ്യമുള്ള ബ്രാഹ്മണർ; മനസ്സിൽ ശാന്തർ, കൃതാർത്ഥർ, വ്രതങ്ങളിൽ പ്രശസ്തർ. ജ്ഞാനം, യജ്ഞം, തപസ് എന്നിവയിൽ നിഷ്ഠയുള്ളവർ; ശിവഭക്തിയിൽ പൂർണ്ണപരായണർ.

Word by Word

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेदविदः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विद् (धातु) → वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य विदः = knower of the Veda)

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त; √शम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• कृतिनः: accomplished, meritorious
• कृतिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शंसितव्रताः: whose vows are praised
• शंसितव्रताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित (कृदन्त; √शंस् धातु, क्त) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (शंसितं व्रतं येषाम्/शंसित-व्रताः)

• ज्ञानयज्ञतपोनिष्ठाः: steadfast in knowledge, sacrifice, and austerity
• ज्ञानयज्ञतपोनिष्ठाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + यज्ञ + तपस् + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (ज्ञान-यज्ञ-तपः-निष्ठाः = devoted to knowledge, sacrifice, and austerity)

• शिवभक्तिपरायणाः: wholly devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• शिवभक्तिपरायणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + भक्ति + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिव-भक्ति-परायणाः = devoted to devotion to Śiva)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual attribution within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene assembly of Veda-knowing brāhmaṇas seated in orderly rows, calm-faced, with rudrākṣa and sacred threads, holding palm-leaf manuscripts; a subtle presence of Śiva (liṅga or trident emblem) sanctifies the gathering.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Viprāḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Scripture praises balanced dharma: Vedic learning and inner peace, disciplined vows, and unwavering devotion to Śiva together form spiritual excellence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse characterizes the officiating brāhmaṇas within the ritual narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual step; it identifies the qualifications and disposition of those fit to lead Rudra-centered rites.