Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

कुत्सितं कृषिवाणिज्यं शुक्लं शिल्पानुवृत्तिभिः । कृतोपकारादाप्तं च शंबलं समुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

kutsitaṃ kṛṣivāṇijyaṃ śuklaṃ śilpānuvṛttibhiḥ | kṛtopakārādāptaṃ ca śaṃbalaṃ samudāhṛtam

Translation

(ശ്രാദ്ധ-സന്ദർഭത്തിൽ) കൃഷിയും വ്യാപാരവും നിന്ദ്യമായി പറയപ്പെടുന്നു; ശില്പപ്രവൃത്തികളെ ആശ്രയിച്ചുള്ള ഉപജീവനം ശുക്ലം (ശുദ്ധം) എന്നു കണക്കാക്കുന്നു. ചെയ്ത ഉപകാരത്തിന്റെയോ സേവനത്തിന്റെയോ പ്രതിഫലമായി ലഭിക്കുന്നത് ‘ശംബല’ (നിർവാഹ-ലാഭം) എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• kutsitam: blameworthy
• kutsitam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kutsita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṛṣi-vāṇijyam: agriculture and trade
• kṛṣi-vāṇijyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + vāṇijya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (agriculture and trade)

• śuklam: pure/white
• śuklam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śilpa-anuvṛttibhiḥ: by (means of) pursuing crafts
• śilpa-anuvṛttibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘शिल्पस्य अनुवृत्तिः’ = practice of crafts)

• kṛta-upakārāt: from a service rendered (as return)
• kṛta-upakārāt: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (धातु) + kta) + upakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (‘कृतः उपकारः’); अपादानार्थ

• āptam: obtained
• āptam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpta (प्रातिपदिक; √āp (धातु) + kta)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• śaṃbalam: impure/tainted gain (śaṃbala)
• śaṃbalam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• samudāhṛtam: is declared/called
• samudāhṛtam: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-√hṛ (धातु) + kta
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (has been declared)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (typical)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A triptych-like scene: on one side a farmer and merchant with muted, shadowed tones (kutsita in this context); in the center an artisan at a loom or metalwork with a bright white aura (śukla); on the other side a helper receiving fair recompense labeled ‘śaṃbala’, all set near a coastal shrine precinct where śrāddha is being prepared.

Characters & Entities

• Śrāddha
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Offerings should be supported by livelihood that aligns with dharma as defined by the rite’s strict standards.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, through its māhātmya’s detailed dharma for śrāddha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

In the śrāddha framework presented here, prefer pure earnings (e.g., crafts) and recognize service-based gain as ‘śaṃbala’; avoid censured sources for offerings.