Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

वेदार्थवित्प्रवक्ता च ब्रह्मचारी सहस्रदः । संबंधिनं तथा संतं दौहित्रं दुहितुः पतिम्

Transliteration

vedārthavitpravaktā ca brahmacārī sahasradaḥ | saṃbaṃdhinaṃ tathā saṃtaṃ dauhitraṃ duhituḥ patim

Translation

वेदार्थ जाणणारा व प्रवचन करणारा, ब्रह्मचारी, सहस्रदान करणारा उदार दाता; तसेच सद्गुणी संबंधी, दौहित्र व कन्येचा पती—हेही पूजनीय आहेत।

Word by Word

• वेदार्थवित्: knower of the meaning of the Veda
• वेदार्थवित्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘वित्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य अर्थं वेत्ति)

• प्रवक्ता: expounder/teacher
• प्रवक्ता: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘प्रवक्तृ’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्यय (agent noun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ब्रह्मचारी: celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सहस्रदः: giver of a thousand (generous donor)
• सहस्रदः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + द (धातु √दा; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘द’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सहस्रं ददाति)

• संबंधिनम्: a kinsman/relative
• संबंधिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संबंधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Addition/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• सन्तम्: virtuous/good
• सन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्त् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle)

• दौहित्रम्: daughter's son (grandson)
• दौहित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौहित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दुहितुः: of the daughter
• दुहितुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa māhātmya discourse style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Interlocutor seeking śrāddha procedure

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Veda-meaning teacher (pravaktā) seated with manuscript, a brahmacārin with staff and mekhalā, a renowned donor presenting gifts, and virtuous relatives assembled for śrāddha; the yajamāna offers respectful arghya and seats them in order.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual merit increases when one honors Vedic learning, self-restraint, generosity, and virtuous family relations.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, whose māhātmya frames these dharma-rules for rites performed in sacred space.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Selection of worthy persons to honor/invite for śrāddha-associated offerings and hospitality.