Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

पितरो मुनयो देवा भूतानि मनुजास्तथा । क्रिमिकीटपतंगाश्च वयांसि पितरोऽसुराः

Transliteration

pitaro munayo devā bhūtāni manujāstathā | krimikīṭapataṃgāśca vayāṃsi pitaro'surāḥ

Translation

ପିତୃଗଣ, ମୁନି, ଦେବତା, ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂତପ୍ରାଣୀ ଓ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ—କୃମି, କୀଟ, ପତଙ୍ଗ, ପକ୍ଷୀ, ପିତୃସମୂହ ଏବଂ ଅସୁରମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ—ଏହି ପବିତ୍ର ଧର୍ମବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାରେ ପୋଷିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• पितरः: the ancestors/fathers
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भूतानि: beings/creatures
• भूतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मनुजाः: humans
• मनुजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/उपपद (also/likewise)

• क्रिमि-कीट-पतङ्गाः: worms, insects, and flying insects
• क्रिमि-कीट-पतङ्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिमि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• वयांसि: birds
• वयांसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पितरः: ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• असुराः: asuras/demons
• असुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Purāṇic dialogue style within Brāhma Khaṇḍa sections)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic cosmic tableau: devas, ṛṣis, pitṛs, humans, birds, insects, and asuras arranged in concentric tiers around a central emblem of dharma (a radiant cow or yajña-fire), indicating shared dependence.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Munis
• Devas
• Bhūtas
• Manuṣyas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All classes of beings are interconnected and sustained through dharma; one should not live selfishly but uphold the sustaining order of life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is framed within Dharmāraṇya’s teaching context; it emphasizes dharma’s sustaining power more than naming a single tirtha in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly, the maintenance of dharmic support—classically through yajña, dāna, and hospitality—by which devas and pitṛs are sustained.