Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

परोपकारिणः सर्वे श्रुतिस्मृति परायणाः । बकासनाश्च कुटिलाश्छद्मवृत्तिपरास्तथा

Transliteration

paropakāriṇaḥ sarve śrutismṛti parāyaṇāḥ | bakāsanāśca kuṭilāśchadmavṛttiparāstathā

Translation

ସମସ୍ତେ ପରୋପକାରୀ ଓ ଶ୍ରୁତି‑ସ୍ମୃତିରେ ପରାୟଣ; ତଥାପି କେହି କେହି ବକସଦୃଶ କପଟ, କୁଟିଳ ଓ ଛଳମୟ ଆଚରଣରେ ରତ ଅଟନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• परोपकारिणः: benefactors of others
• परोपकारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परोपकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; पर-उपकारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• श्रुति: revelation (Veda)
• श्रुति: Sambandha (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य पूर्वपद (as member of a pair)

• स्मृति: tradition (Smṛti)
• स्मृति: Sambandha (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; श्रुति-स्मृति (pair)

• परायणाः: devoted/intent upon
• परायणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• बकासनाः: having the posture/seat of a crane (hypocritical)
• बकासनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बकासन (प्रातिपदिक; बक-आसन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुटिलाः: crooked, deceitful
• कुटिलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• छद्मवृत्तिपराः: devoted to a false/pretended conduct
• छद्मवृत्तिपराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छद्म-वृत्ति-पर (प्रातिपदिक; छद्म + वृत्ति + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A forest-assembly of learned men: some serene and charitable, others with crane-like stillness hiding sharp intent; a moral contrast tableau.

Characters & Entities

• Śruti
• Smṛti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Scriptural learning must be matched by sincerity; pretended piety and crooked conduct undermine dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the verse is a moral characterization within the chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse contrasts genuine dharmic devotion with hypocrisy.