Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाय नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वपापविशुद्धये । इष्टभोज्यं ततः कार्यं स्वशक्त्या पार्थिवोत्तम

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāya nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvapāpaviśuddhaye | iṣṭabhojyaṃ tataḥ kāryaṃ svaśaktyā pārthivottama

Translation

அரசர்களில் சிறந்தவனே! எல்லாப் பாவங்களும் நீங்குவதற்காகப் பிராமணருக்குச் (மரியாதை-தானம் செய்து) பின்னர், அரசர்களில் முதன்மையானவனே, தன் ஆற்றலுக்கேற்ப இனிய உணவை ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇāya: to a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• nṛpaśreṣṭha: O best of kings
• nṛpaśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नृपाणां श्रेष्ठः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• sarvapāpaviśuddhaye: for the purification from all sins
• sarvapāpaviśuddhaye: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + viśuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (सर्वपापानां विशुद्धिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular (purpose)

• iṣṭabhojyam: desired/choice food (meal)
• iṣṭabhojyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭa (√iṣ धातु + क्त) + bhojya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular (thing to be done/prepared)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• kāryam: should be done/prepared
• kāryam: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kārya (√kṛ धातु + यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Gerundive—‘to be done’

• svaśaktyā: with one’s own capacity/according to ability
• svaśaktyā: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य शक्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (means/according to ability)

• pārthivottama: O best of rulers
• pārthivottama: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; Vocative singular

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nṛpaśreṣṭha / Pārthiva (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king or patron respectfully offers a meal to a brāhmaṇa: seated on a clean mat, water vessel and food served; attendants stand back; the atmosphere is solemn and purifying, indicating completion of a sacred observance.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification is sealed through generosity—especially honoring sacred learning and service via feeding.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is procedural and does not name a tirtha; it supports tīrtha-associated observance through dāna and hospitality.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Give to a brāhmaṇa and arrange a satisfying meal (bhojana) according to one’s means.