Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रैरपि च संकरैः । यातव्यं प्रेतनिलये द्विजपुत्र महामते

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyairvaiśyaiḥ śūdrairapi ca saṃkaraiḥ | yātavyaṃ pretanilaye dvijaputra mahāmate

Translation

ทั้งพราหมณ์ กษัตริย์ แพศย์ ศูทร และผู้มีวรรณะปะปน—ล้วนต้องไปสู่ที่พำนักแห่งเปรต โอ้บุตรทวิชะผู้มีปัญญายิ่ง

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇaiḥ: by Brahmins
• brāhmaṇaiḥ: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kṣatriyaiḥ: by Kshatriyas
• kṣatriyaiḥ: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vaiśyaiḥ: by Vaishyas
• vaiśyaiḥ: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śūdraiḥ: by Shudras
• śūdraiḥ: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Emphasis/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-अर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• saṃkaraiḥ: by mixed castes/people of mixed origin
• saṃkaraiḥ: Kartr̥ (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• yātavyam: must be gone/one must go
• yātavyam: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः (impersonal obligation)

• preta-nilaye: in the abode of the departed
• preta-nilaye: Adhikaraṇa (Destination/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta-nilaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of the departed' + 'abode'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvija-putra: O son of a twice-born
• dvija-putra: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija-putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of a dvija' + 'son'); पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahā-mate: O great-minded one
• mahā-mate: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'great' + 'intellect'); पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Munayaḥ (the sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Pretanilaya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Dvija-putra, mahāmati (wise brāhmaṇa’s son)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A diverse assembly—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, and mixed groups—stand together at a single gateway labeled Pretanilaya; above, Yama’s emblem (daṇḍa/pāśa) signifies equal law; sages instruct a dvija youth in the foreground.

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pretanilaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Social identity does not prevent death; therefore one should pursue virtue and spiritual insight beyond mere status.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setu/Rāmeśvaram remains the broader narrative setting, though the verse stresses a universal truth.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the verse underscores the need for dharmic preparation for death.