Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

विप्राज्ञाकारिणो लोकाः संजाताश्च यथा पुरा । विष्णुधर्मं परित्यज्य नान्यं जानंति ते वृषम्

Transliteration

viprājñākāriṇo lokāḥ saṃjātāśca yathā purā | viṣṇudharmaṃ parityajya nānyaṃ jānaṃti te vṛṣam

Translation

ജനങ്ങൾ വീണ്ടും മുൻപുപോലെ ബ്രാഹ്മണരുടെ ആജ്ഞ അനുസരിക്കുന്നവരായി. വിഷ്ണുധർമ്മം ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാതെ, അതൊഴികെ മറ്റൊരു ധർമ്മമാനദണ്ഡവും അവർ അംഗീകരിച്ചില്ല.

Word by Word

• विप्राज्ञाकारिणः: obedient to the brāhmaṇas’ command
• विप्राज्ञाकारिणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य आज्ञां करोति/पालयति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘लोकाः’)

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• संजाताः: became
• संजाताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जन् (धातु) + संजात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘became’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Sambandha (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• विष्णुधर्मम्: the dharma of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुधर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः धर्मः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having abandoned)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यम्: another (one)
• अन्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘other (dharma)’ (elliptical)

• जानन्ति: know
• जानन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

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

• वृषम्: righteousness/dharma
• वृषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-रूपेण ‘धर्म’पर्यायः (righteousness)

Speaker

Vyāsa (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhūpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A reformed populace gathered respectfully before brāhmaṇas; in the background, a symbolic dharma-bull (vṛṣa) or Viṣṇu emblem signifies the accepted standard of righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Viprāḥ)
• Viṣṇu
• Dharma (Vṛṣa as symbol)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True social order arises when people uphold Viṣṇu-dharma and respect righteous guidance, treating dharma as the highest standard.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya’s sanctity is implied through its role in re-establishing Viṣṇu-dharma and communal righteousness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual; it stresses sustained adherence to Viṣṇu-dharma and obedience to dharmic instruction.