Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

तथा च दक्षिणां दद्याद्वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः । विशेषतः प्रदेयानि फलानि रसवंति च

Transliteration

tathā ca dakṣiṇāṃ dadyādvittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ | viśeṣataḥ pradeyāni phalāni rasavaṃti ca

Translation

அதேபோல் செல்வத்தில் கஞ்சத்தனமின்றி தக்ஷிணை அளிக்க வேண்டும்; குறிப்பாக சாறுமிக்க சிறந்த கனிகளைத் தானமாக வழங்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• दक्षिणाम्: a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative); एकवचन

• दद्याद्: should give
• दद्याद्: Kriyā (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन

• वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः: free from deceit regarding wealth
• वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शाठ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त; वि+वर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative); एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); विशेषण—‘वित्त-शाठ्य’ (धनसम्बन्धि-कपट) तद्विवर्जितः (free from that)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रदेयानि: to be given, should be offered
• प्रदेयानि: Karma (Object; ‘to be given’ items)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदेय (कृदन्त; प्र+दा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.); बहुवचन; भविष्यत्कृदन्त/कर्तव्यता-अर्थक (gerundive, -नीय)

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.); बहुवचन

• रसवन्ति: juicy, full of taste
• रसवन्ति: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रसवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.); बहुवचन; विशेषण (फलानि इति)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim offers dakṣiṇā and baskets of ripe fruits to a priest and to needy travelers near the ghat; the giver’s posture is humble, hands extended, with a calm, ethical resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣiṇā
• Dāna
• Ṛṣitīrtha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Merit increases when ritual is joined with generous giving, free from greed and stinginess.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The giving is part of the Ṛṣitīrtha–Siddheśvara pilgrimage regimen in Dvārakā-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Give dakṣiṇā sincerely, and offer especially good, juicy fruits as dāna.