Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

राजानो ब्रह्मदंडेन यतयो भोगसंग्रहात् । लीढं शुना तथैवान्नं सुरया वार्पितं पयः

Transliteration

rājāno brahmadaṃḍena yatayo bhogasaṃgrahāt | līḍhaṃ śunā tathaivānnaṃ surayā vārpitaṃ payaḥ

Translation

ରାଜାମାନେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଦଣ୍ଡର ଶାସନରେ ପତିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି, ଯତିମାନେ ଭୋଗ ସଂଗ୍ରହରେ ପତନ କରନ୍ତି। କୁକୁର ଚାଟିଥିବା ଅନ୍ନ ଓ ସୁରାରେ ଦୂଷିତ ଦୁଧ—ଏହାକୁ ଅପବିତ୍ର ମନିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मदण्डेन: by the Brahmin’s staff / by Brahma’s rod (punishment)
• ब्रह्मदण्डेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मदण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) = ब्रह्मन् + दण्ड
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• यतयः: ascetics
• यतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भोगसंग्रहात्: from accumulation of pleasures
• भोगसंग्रहात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगसंग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) = भोग + संग्रह
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन — ablative of cause/source

• लीढम्: licked
• लीढम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिह् (धातु) → लीढ (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — used predicatively with अन्नम्

• शुना: by a dog
• शुना: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — adverb

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — emphatic particle

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सुरया: with liquor
• सुरया: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• वार्पितम्: offered/presented (as libation)
• वार्पितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्प् (धातु) → अर्पित (कृदन्त); व- (उपसर्ग/प्रयोगभेद)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — qualifies पयः

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (context not explicit in excerpt; likely Purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau contrasting four images: a king humbled by a brāhmaṇa’s moral authority; an ascetic surrounded by stored luxuries; a dog-licked dish; milk tainted by liquor—visual metaphors of defilement and downfall.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Power and renunciation both require discipline: rulers must fear dharmic correction, and ascetics must avoid attachment and hoarding.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes dharma and purity norms.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicit purity guidance: avoid defiled food/drink; no specific vrata or tīrtha-rite is stated.