Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

राजप्रतिग्रहो घोरो राम सत्यं न संशयः । तस्माद्वयं न चेच्छामः प्रतिग्रहं भया वहम्

Transliteration

rājapratigraho ghoro rāma satyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ | tasmādvayaṃ na cecchāmaḥ pratigrahaṃ bhayā vaham

Translation

‘Wahai Rāma, menerima pemberian daripada raja itu amat menggerunkan—ini benar, tanpa syak. Maka kami tidak mengingini pratigraha yang membawa takut dan bahaya.’

Word by Word

• राजप्रतिग्रहः: accepting gifts from a king
• राजप्रतिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः प्रतिग्रहः = acceptance from a king)

• घोरः: terrible
• घोरः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘राजप्रतिग्रहः’)

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय (predicate)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that (reason)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: तद्-प्रातिपदिकस्य पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपम् अव्ययवत्; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• इच्छामः: we desire
• इच्छामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रतिग्रहम्: acceptance (of gifts)
• प्रतिग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भयावहम्: bringing fear
• भयावहम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भयम् आवहति इति) विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘प्रतिग्रहम्’)

Speaker

Ascetic brāhmaṇas (addressing Rāma; framed by Brahmā’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: (implied) sages/assembly; narrative audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sages speak firmly to Rāma, palms raised in refusal; the atmosphere is respectful yet tense, emphasizing the dread of royal gifts; Rāma’s face shows understanding and restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rājapratigraha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gifts can create bondage; refusing dangerous patronage safeguards dharma and inner freedom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is specified; the verse is a dharma statement within the Dharmāraṇya section.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prohibition/avoidance: do not accept rāja-dāna (royal gifts) when it threatens spiritual safety.