Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

वैश्वदेवेन हीना ये हीनाश्चातिथ्यतोऽपि ये । कर्मणा सर्ववृषला वेदयुक्ता ह्यपि द्विजाः

Transliteration

vaiśvadevena hīnā ye hīnāścātithyato'pi ye | karmaṇā sarvavṛṣalā vedayuktā hyapi dvijāḥ

Translation

வைஶ்வதேவ அர்ப்பணிப்பை புறக்கணிப்பவரும், விருந்தோம்பலில் குறைவுடையவரும்—நடத்தையால் முழுவதும் வ்ருஷலர் போன்றவரே; இருமுறை பிறந்தவர்களாகவும் வேதஞானம் உடையவர்களாகவும் இருந்தாலும்.

Word by Word

• वैश्वदेवेन: by/with the Vaiśvadeva rite
• वैश्वदेवेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन (neuter, instrumental, singular)

• हीनाः: devoid of
• हीनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative, plural)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (relative pronoun; masculine, nominative, plural)

• हीनाः: devoid of
• हीनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative, plural)

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

• आतिथ्यतः: in respect of hospitality
• आतिथ्यतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आतिथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'as regards/from the standpoint of hospitality')

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (relative pronoun; masculine, nominative, plural)

• कर्मणा: by deeds/through conduct
• कर्मणा: Hetu/Karaṇa (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/हेतु), एकवचन (neuter, instrumental, singular)

• सर्ववृषलाः: altogether śūdra-like/base
• सर्ववृषलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वृषल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे वृषलाः) (masculine, nominative, plural)

• वेदयुक्ताः: endowed with the Veda (Veda-knowing)
• वेदयुक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेदेन युक्ताः) (masculine, nominative, plural)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed/for)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (even/also)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative, plural)

Speaker

Unknown (within Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dvija household near a tīrtha neglects the hearth-offering; an unserved guest stands at the doorway; the sacred fire is dim; sages depict the moral: despite Vedic books, the home’s dharma is empty.

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśvadeva
• Atithi (guest)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual learning without daily duty—offerings and hospitality—counts as moral failure; conduct defines dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra remains the frame; the verse teaches how residents/pilgrims should live in a holy region.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Maintain Vaiśvadeva (daily offering) and practice ātithya (hospitality to guests).