Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यपूजकास्ते वै तपो विद्याविशेषतः । ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मणा सृष्टः सर्वभूतेश्वरो यतः

Transliteration

anyonyapūjakāste vai tapo vidyāviśeṣataḥ | brāhmaṇo brahmaṇā sṛṣṭaḥ sarvabhūteśvaro yataḥ

Translation

അവർ പരസ്പരം ഒരുമേകനെ പൂജിച്ച് ആദരിക്കുന്നവർ; തപസ്സും വിദ്യാവിശേഷവും കൊണ്ടു വിശിഷ്ടർ. ബ്രഹ്മാവാൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ സൃഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിനാൽ, ധർമ്മവും ജ്ഞാനവും മൂലം അവൻ സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളിൽ ഈശ്വരതുല്യമായി മാന്യൻ.

Word by Word

• अन्योन्यपूजकाः: mutual worshippers
• अन्योन्यपूजकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् (धातु) + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘परस्परं पूजयन्ति’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘तप’ (austerity)

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय—तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ब्राह्मणः: the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahman (the Creator)
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सृष्टः: created
• सृष्टः: Predicate (विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √सृज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘सृज्यते’

• सर्वभूतेश्वरः: lord of all beings
• सर्वभूतेश्वरः: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘सर्वभूतानाम् ईश्वरः’

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—हेतौ (causal conjunction)

Speaker

Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An āśrama in a quiet forest: learned brāhmaṇas and ascetics exchange respectful salutations; Brahmā is envisioned as the cosmic progenitor in the background, symbolizing brahma-creation and dharma’s authority.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through austerity, learning, and mutual respect; spiritual authority is grounded in conduct and knowledge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; the emphasis is on dharma-teaching within Dharmāraṇya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; the verse highlights tapas (austerity) and vidyā (sacred study) as foundations.