Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

परंपरागतं धर्म मूचुस्ते वाडवोत्तमाः

Transliteration

paraṃparāgataṃ dharma mūcuste vāḍavottamāḥ

Translation

ആ ഉത്തമ വാഡവർ പരമ്പരയായി ലഭിച്ച ധർമ്മം ഉപദേശിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• परंपरागतम्: handed down by tradition
• परंपरागतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परंपरागत (प्रातिपदिक; परंपरा + गत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परंपरायाः गतः)

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूचुः: they said
• मूचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

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

• वाडवोत्तमाः: the best of the vāḍavas
• वाडवोत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाडवोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; वाडव + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (उत्तमाः वाडवाः)

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Eminent Vāḍava elders seated in a semicircle, instructing younger members and pilgrims; gestures of teaching, palm-leaf bundles, a sacred grove backdrop.

Characters & Entities

• Vāḍava
• Paramparā
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is safeguarded by paramparā—faithful transmission from elders to the next generation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse emphasizes tradition rather than pilgrimage geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite; it highlights teaching and preserving inherited dharma.