Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

गृहस्थमुपजीवंति ततस्तृप्तिं प्रयांति च । मुखं वास्य निरीक्षंते अपो नो दास्यतीति च

Transliteration

gṛhasthamupajīvaṃti tatastṛptiṃ prayāṃti ca | mukhaṃ vāsya nirīkṣaṃte apo no dāsyatīti ca

Translation

Они живут, опираясь на домохозяина (грихастху), и от него получают удовлетворение; они всматриваются в его лицо, думая: «Даст ли он нам воды или нет?»

Word by Word

• गृहस्थम्: the householder
• गृहस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपजीवन्ति: they live by/depend on
• उपजीवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• ततः: thereafter/from him
• ततः: Apadana/Source (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—अवधारण/अपादानार्थक (from that/thereafter)

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: they attain/go to
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

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

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• निरीक्षन्ते: they look at/observe
• निरीक्षन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आपः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नः: to us/for us
• नः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive) / चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), बहुवचन; अत्र—चतुर्थी (to us) अधिकयुक्तम्

• दास्यति: he will give
• दास्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Discourse (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

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

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A threshold scene: a householder seated near the doorway with a water-pot; ascetics, travelers, and humble beings look toward his face expectantly; the moment is charged with ethical choice.

Characters & Entities

• Gṛhastha (householder)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Hospitality is sacred: even offering water is a dharmic act by which dependents and guests are satisfied.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is the narrative frame; the emphasis here is on household dharma rather than a named pilgrimage spot.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Udaka-dāna (giving water) and atithi-sevā (service to those who come seeking support).