Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशिष्टेभ्यो दीनेभ्यश्च विशेषतः । व्रतानि च प्रचीर्णानि रक्षिताः शरणागताः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇebhyo viśiṣṭebhyo dīnebhyaśca viśeṣataḥ | vratāni ca pracīrṇāni rakṣitāḥ śaraṇāgatāḥ

Translation

ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਨ ਦਿੱਤਾ, ਅਤੇ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ-ਦੁਖੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ; ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵਰਤ-ਵ੍ਰਤ ਨਿਭਾਏ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਆਏ ਹੋਇਆਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕੀਤੀ।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to/for the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (3/4/5), बहुवचन; ‘ब्राह्मण’ = to/for/from Brahmins (contextually दान-प्राप्ति: चतुर्थी)

• विशिष्टेभ्यः: to the distinguished (ones)
• विशिष्टेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (कृदन्त; √शिष्/शास्? ‘विशिष्ट’ = distinguished)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (3/4/5), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणेभ्यः)

• दीनेभ्यः: to the poor/distressed
• दीनेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (3/4/5), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणेभ्यः)

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

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय; विशेष + तस्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• व्रतानि: vows/observances
• व्रतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), बहुवचन; कर्म/उद्देश्य-वाचक (contextually ‘observances’ as things performed)

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

• प्रचीर्णानि: performed/observed
• प्रचीर्णानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√चर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → प्रचीर्ण (past passive participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (व्रतानि)

• रक्षिताः: protected
• रक्षिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → रक्षित (past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-सम्बन्धे विशेषणम् (implicit subject ‘they’)

• शरणागताः: those who sought refuge
• शरणागताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण + आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास: ‘शरणम् आगत’ = having come for refuge; विशेषणम् (implicit subject)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A righteous king distributes gifts to learned brāhmaṇas and to the poor; nearby, supplicants approach and are granted refuge; the king is shown observing a vow (simple attire, controlled posture).

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• the poor (dīna)
• refuge-seekers (śaraṇāgata)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True dharma combines devotion (vrata), generosity (dāna), and protection of the vulnerable—especially those who seek shelter.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse foregrounds ethical dharma that underlies tīrtha-māhātmya benefits.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Observance of vratas (religious vows) and directed dāna—particularly to worthy brāhmaṇas and the needy.