Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

पांड्यदेशाधिपो राजा पुरासीच्छंकराभिधः । ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसंधश्च यायजूकश्च धार्मिकः

Transliteration

pāṃḍyadeśādhipo rājā purāsīcchaṃkarābhidhaḥ | brahmaṇyaḥ satyasaṃdhaśca yāyajūkaśca dhārmikaḥ

Translation

पूर्वं पाण्ड्यदेशाधिपो राजा शंकराभिधः आसीत्; स ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसन्धो यायजूकश्च धार्मिकः।

Word by Word

• पाण्ड्यदेशाधिपः: the ruler of the Pāṇḍya country
• पाण्ड्यदेशाधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्ड्य-देश-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—पाण्ड्यदेशस्य अधिपः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शंकराभिधः: named Śaṅkara
• शंकराभिधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंकर-अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘राजा’); समासः—शंकर इति अभिधा यस्य (नामधारकः; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ब्रह्मण्यः: devoted to Brahmins / pious
• ब्रह्मण्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘राजा’)

• सत्यसंधः: true to his vow / truthful
• सत्यसंधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-संध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—सत्ये संधिः/संधा यस्य (truth-bound; तत्पुरुष)

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

• यायजूकः: a sacrificer / one devoted to sacrifices
• यायजूकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यायजूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; यज्ञयाजनशीलः (one who performs/commissions sacrifices)

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

• धार्मिकः: righteous
• धार्मिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Munis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Introduction of King Śaṅkara of the Pāṇḍya land: a righteous monarch shown in court, honoring brāhmaṇas and yajña fires, embodying satya and patronage.

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Pāṇḍya-deśa
• King Śaṅkara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ideal kingship is defined by truth, support of yajña, and reverence toward brāhmaṇas and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The chapter belongs to Setukhaṇḍa, preparing the narrative context connected to Setu–Rāmeśvara (Rāmeśvaram).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Yajña-support (being yāyajūka—one who sponsors/arranges sacrifices) as a dharmic royal duty.