Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

कर्कटिकाश्चार्द्रयुता मरिचेन समन्विताः । एवंविधानि चान्नानि शाकानि विविधानि च

Transliteration

karkaṭikāścārdrayutā maricena samanvitāḥ | evaṃvidhāni cānnāni śākāni vividhāni ca

Translation

कर्कटिकाश्चार्द्रयुताः मरिचेन समन्विताः। एवंविधान्यन्नानि शाकानि च विविधानि च॥

Word by Word

• कर्कटिकाः: crabs (karkaṭikā)
• कर्कटिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्कटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• आर्द्र-युताः: accompanied with moisture; moist
• आर्द्र-युताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) ‘to join’)
• Form: बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘आर्द्रेण युताः’ (with moisture/wet)

• मरिचेन: with pepper
• मरिचेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरिच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• समन्विताः: combined; accompanied
• समन्विताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्वित (कृदन्त; सम्+अनु+√इ (धातु) ‘to go/attend’, past participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘समन्वित’ = endowed/combined

• एवं-विधानि: such kinds (of)
• एवं-विधानि: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘एवंविधानि’ = of such kind

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

• अन्नानि: foods; dishes
• अन्नानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• शाकानि: vegetables; greens
• शाकानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (contextual; likely Sūta-style narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A long sacrificial dining arrangement in a forest-kshetra: steaming dishes of vegetables and leafy greens, brahmanas seated in rows, attendants serving with reverence; the atmosphere is orderly, fragrant, and auspicious.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through generous, respectful hospitality—offering well-prepared food as a sacred act.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is the setting; the passage supports the forest’s sanctity through yajña and righteous conduct rather than naming a single tirtha in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied anna-sevā/feeding as part of a yajña setting—preparing varied dishes for honored guests (dvijas).