Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

भ्रममाणां शिलां ज्ञात्वा विप्र एको द्विजाग्रतः । वात्स्यगोत्रसमुत्पन्नो लोकान्संगीतवान्कलम्

Transliteration

bhramamāṇāṃ śilāṃ jñātvā vipra eko dvijāgrataḥ | vātsyagotrasamutpanno lokānsaṃgītavānkalam

Translation

ครั้นรู้แจ้งถึงศิลาที่หมุนเวียนอยู่ พราหมณ์ผู้หนึ่ง—ผู้เลิศในหมู่ทวิชะ ผู้กำเนิดในโคตรวาตสยะ—ก็สะกดผู้คนด้วยบทเพลงอันไพเราะละมุน

Word by Word

• भ्रममाणाम्: (the) moving/whirling
• भ्रममाणाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) → भ्रममाण (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्तः (शतृ/शानच्-प्रायः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनस्य विशेषणम्; ‘भ्रमन्ती’ इत्यर्थे (Accusative singular feminine agreeing with शिलाम्)

• शिलाम्: stone/rock
• शिलाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known/recognized
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive)

• विप्रः: a Brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular)

• एकः: one/single
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); विप्रस्य विशेषणम्

• द्विजाग्रतः: in front of the twice-born
• द्विजाग्रतः: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विज + अग्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: ‘in front of the twice-born’)

• वात्स्यगोत्रसमुत्पन्नः: born in the Vātsya lineage
• वात्स्यगोत्रसमुत्पन्नः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात्स्य + गोत्र + समुत्पन्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः (वात्स्य-गोत्र-समुत्पन्नः = वात्स्यगोत्रात् समुत्पन्नः); क्त कृदन्तः; पुल्लिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विप्रस्य विशेषणम्

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (Accusative plural)

• संगीतवान्: sang/intoned
• संगीतवान्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-गी (धातु) → संगीतम्/संगीतवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्तवतुँ) कृदन्तः; पुल्लिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (having sung/recited)

• कलम्: a melody/tune
• कलम्: Karma (Object/Mode)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular); ‘स्वर/तान’ इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely Sūta/Vyāsa-style narration within the Māhātmya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Bhrama-śilā (revolving stone) at Dharmāraṇya

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A learned brāhmaṇa of Vātsya lineage stands near a mysteriously revolving stone; he sings in a measured, melodious mode while pilgrims gather, captivated.

Characters & Entities

• Vātsya-gotra brāhmaṇa
• revolving stone (bhramamāṇā śilā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In a holy region, even natural objects become signs of the divine, and sacred sound draws minds toward dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, where wondrous phenomena like the revolving stone are presented as markers of sanctity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the emphasis is on sacred music and wonder inspiring faith.