Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

कूरबुद्धिरथो वीक्ष्य तदर्थं चामिषं शुभम् । सुसंस्कृतं विधानेन सूपकारैर्द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

kūrabuddhiratho vīkṣya tadarthaṃ cāmiṣaṃ śubham | susaṃskṛtaṃ vidhānena sūpakārairdvijottamāḥ

Translation

Kemudian orang yang tumpul akalnya itu, melihat daging yang baik disediakan untuk tujuan tersebut—dimasak rapi menurut aturan oleh tukang masak yang mahir—wahai yang utama antara para brāhmaṇa, lalu meneruskan helahnya.

Word by Word

• कूरबुद्धिः: the cruel-minded one
• कूरबुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (cruel + mind)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (connective particle)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having seen/observed’

• तदर्थम्: for that purpose
• तदर्थम्: Karma (Object/purpose-object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (for that purpose)

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

• आमिषम्: meat/flesh
• आमिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभम्: good/choice
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of आमिषम्/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुसंस्कृतम्: well-prepared
• सुसंस्कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of आमिषम्/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + संस्कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण

• विधानेन: by proper procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (Means/method/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सूपकारैः: by cooks
• सूपकारैः: Karana (Instrument/agents as means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (excellent brāhmaṇas)

Speaker

Sūta (continued narration; implied by flow from 34)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: (assembly of sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A scheming figure eyes a lavishly prepared meat dish, noting its careful seasoning and presentation; cooks and vessels suggest ‘proper preparation’ masking an improper intent.

Characters & Entities

• Cooks (sūpakāra)
• Brahmins (dvija)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma can be undermined by cunning intent; outwardly proper arrangements do not sanctify an impure motive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; it advances the moral narrative within the Tīrthamāhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Only culinary preparation “according to rule” is referenced; no explicit vow or tīrtha-rite is prescribed here.