Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 116

Devanagari script

अनूचानगुणोपेतो यज्ञस्वाध्याययंत्रितः । भ्रूण इत्युच्यते शिष्टैः शेषभोजी जितेंद्रियः

Transliteration

anūcānaguṇopeto yajñasvādhyāyayaṃtritaḥ | bhrūṇa ityucyate śiṣṭaiḥ śeṣabhojī jiteṃdriyaḥ

Translation

അനൂചാനന്റെ ഗുണങ്ങളാൽ സമ്പന്നൻ, യജ്ഞവും സ്വാധ്യായവും കൊണ്ട് നിയന്ത്രിതൻ, ഹവിഷ്ശേഷം മാത്രം ഭുജിക്കുന്നവൻ, ഇന്ദ്രിയജിതൻ—ഇത്തരം പുരുഷനെ ശിഷ്ടർ ‘ഭ്രൂണൻ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अनूचानगुणोपेतः: endowed with the qualities of an anūcāna
• अनूचानगुणोपेतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनूचान (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त, उप-√इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अनूचानस्य गुणैः उपेतः)

• यज्ञस्वाध्याययन्त्रितः: disciplined by sacrifice and self-study
• यज्ञस्वाध्याययन्त्रितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्रित (कृदन्त, √यम्/यन्त्र्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (यज्ञ + स्वाध्याय) ततः तत्पुरुष/कृदन्तार्थः ‘तेन यन्त्रितः’

• भ्रूणः: (called) ‘bhrūṇa’
• भ्रूणः: Predicate nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रूण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अत्र उपाधि/पदनाम)

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• शिष्टैः: by the learned
• शिष्टैः: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘by the learned/elders’

• शेषभोजी: one who eats leftovers (moderate/regulated eater)
• शेषभोजी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शेषं भुङ्क्ते)

• जितेन्द्रियः: sense-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त, √जि) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणि जितानि यस्य)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined brāhmaṇa after homa, receiving a small portion of consecrated remnants; senses restrained, eyes lowered; yajña-kuṇḍa and offerings visible; atmosphere of purity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True excellence is defined by disciplined learning, worshipful restraint, and mastery of the senses—not by birth alone.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it focuses on dharmic qualifications and conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Regular yajña (sacrificial worship) and svādhyāya (Vedic recitation/study), along with eating only the remainder after offerings.