Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 78

Devanagari script

ह्रस्वकाया भिन्नवर्णा बहुरामा द्विजोत्तमाः । दयालाः सरलाः शांता ब्रह्मभोज्यपरायणाः

Transliteration

hrasvakāyā bhinnavarṇā bahurāmā dvijottamāḥ | dayālāḥ saralāḥ śāṃtā brahmabhojyaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദ്വിജർ ഹ്രസ്വകായരും വിവിധ വർണ്ണക്കാരും, പലരും മനോഹരസ്വഭാവമുള്ളവരും ആകുന്നു; അവർ ദയാലുക്കൾ, ലളിതർ, ശാന്തർ, ബ്രാഹ്മണ-ഭോജ്യം (പവിത്ര അതിഥിസത്കാരം) പാലനത്തിൽ പരായണർ.

Word by Word

• ह्रस्वकायाः: short-bodied
• ह्रस्वकायाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (ह्रस्वः कायः येषाम् = short-bodied)

• भिन्नवर्णाः: of varied complexion
• भिन्नवर्णाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद्) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (भिन्नः वर्णः येषाम् = of different complexion/color)

• बहुरामाः: very pleasing (lit. many delights)
• बहुरामाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (बहवः रामाः/रमणीयाः = very pleasing/very delightful; or having many 'rāma' qualities)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (द्विजेषु उत्तमाः = best among the twice-born)

• दयालाः: compassionate
• दयालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयालु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सरलाः: straightforward
• सरलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त; √शम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मभोज्यपरायणाः: devoted to feeding Brahmins (or Brahmin-worthy offerings)
• ब्रह्मभोज्यपरायणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + भोज्य + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मभोज्ये परायणाः = devoted to what is fit to be offered/eaten by Brahmins; i.e., devoted to feeding Brahmins)

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An āśrama courtyard where dvijottamas sit in orderly rows; hosts offer anna and water with folded hands; faces are gentle and peaceful, emphasizing dayā and śānti.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Brahmabhojya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer differences are secondary; inner virtues—compassion, simplicity, peace—and dharmic hospitality are what ennoble.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Brahmabhojya (honoring/feeding brāhmaṇas) is praised as a dharmic priority.