Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

दीनांधकृपणांस्तत्र तर्पयेच्च समाश्रितान्

Transliteration

dīnāṃdhakṛpaṇāṃstatra tarpayecca samāśritān

Translation

അവിടെ ആശ്രയിച്ച ദീനർ, അന്ധർ, കൃപണ-ദരിദ്രർ എന്നിവരെയും തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തി അവരെ പോഷിപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• दीन-अन्ध-कृपणान्: the poor, the blind, and the wretched
• दीन-अन्ध-कृपणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (the poor, the blind, and the miserly/wretched)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should satisfy/refresh’

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

• समाश्रितान्: those who have taken refuge (dependents)
• समाश्रितान्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + श्रि (धातु) → समाश्रित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दीन-अन्ध-कृपणान्’ इति; ‘those who have taken refuge/are dependent’

Speaker

Prahlāda (continuing)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Dvija-śārdūlas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A compassionate distribution scene in Dvārakā: volunteers serve food and water to the poor, the blind led by a staff, and destitute pilgrims seated in rows; the temple flag and Gomati bank appear behind, linking seva to sacred space.

Characters & Entities

• Dīna (poor)
• Andha (blind)
• Kṛpaṇa (destitute)
• Tarpana (nourishing/satisfying)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Compassionate service to the vulnerable is an essential expression of dharma alongside temple worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Still within the Dvārakā Māhātmya setting; the verse highlights conduct expected in a sacred place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Provide nourishment/support (tarpana in the sense of satisfying) to the poor, blind, and destitute who seek refuge.