Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण्यां क्षत्रियाज्जातः सूत इत्यभिधीयते । सूतेन रजकश्चैव रजकेन च चर्मकृत्

Transliteration

brāhmaṇyāṃ kṣatriyājjātaḥ sūta ityabhidhīyate | sūtena rajakaścaiva rajakena ca carmakṛt

Translation

ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣୀ ନାରୀ ଓ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ପୁରୁଷରୁ ଯେ ଜନ୍ମେ, ସେ ‘ସୂତ’ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ। ସୂତରୁ ‘ରଜକ’ (ଧୋବା) ଏବଂ ରଜକରୁ ‘ଚର୍ମକୃତ୍’ (ଚର୍ମକାର) ଜନ୍ମେ।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मण्याम्: in/with a Brahmin woman
• ब्राह्मण्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्षत्रियात्: from a Kṣatriya (man)
• क्षत्रियात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• जातः: born
• जातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सूतः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सूतः: Sūta (a mixed caste)
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus, as
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निरूपणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अभिधीयते: is called
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• सूतेन: by/through a Sūta
• सूतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• रजकः: washerman
• रजकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• रजकेन: by a washerman
• रजकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• चर्मकृत्: leather-worker
• चर्मकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (चर्म करोति)

Speaker

Bṛhaspati

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Indra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic genealogical chain: Bṛhaspati indicates three linked figures representing Sūta, Rajaka, and Carmakṛt, each with subtle occupational attributes (scroll/chariot emblem; washing cloth; leather tools) while Indra observes.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Sūta
• Rajaka
• Carmakṛt/Carmakāra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It presents a traditional Purāṇic genealogy of social categories; the passage is descriptive within its doctrinal framework rather than a devotional instruction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; this is a classificatory segment within the chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse provides lineage-based naming.