Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 121

Devanagari script

तत्संख्यानां द्विजेंद्राणां दत्तवंतोऽपि वांछितम् । अदैवत्यमिदं श्राद्धं दरिद्राणां सुखावहम्

Transliteration

tatsaṃkhyānāṃ dvijeṃdrāṇāṃ dattavaṃto'pi vāṃchitam | adaivatyamidaṃ śrāddhaṃ daridrāṇāṃ sukhāvaham

Translation

แม้ถวายทานแก่พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐตามจำนวนนั้น ก็ย่อมบรรลุสิ่งที่ปรารถนา ศราทธะนี้เป็นพิธีที่ “ไม่ต้องพึ่งพาเทพอื่น” และเป็นเหตุแห่งความผาสุกแก่ผู้ยากไร้

Word by Word

• tat-saṃkhyānām: of that number
• tat-saṃkhyānām: Sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तत्संख्याः’ (of that number)

• dvijendrāṇām: of the best brāhmaṇas
• dvijendrāṇām: Sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘द्विजानाम् इन्द्राः’ (best of twice-born)

• dattavantaḥ: (they) who have given
• dattavantaḥ: Karta (subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) → datta (कृदन्त, क्त) + -vant (मतुप्/वतु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण: ‘having given/givers’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘even/also’

• vāṃchitam: the desired (result)
• vāṃchitam: Karma (object of implied ‘obtain/receive’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √vāñch (धातु) → vāṃchita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘desired (thing)’

• adaivatyam: not involving a deity
• adaivatyam: Viśeṣaṇa (of śrāddham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + daivatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध: ‘without deity/without requiring a deity’

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (of śrāddham)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• daridrāṇām: of/for the poor
• daridrāṇām: Sambandha (genitive: for/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daridra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• sukhāvaham: bringing happiness
• sukhāvaham: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (predicate adjective of śrāddham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सुखम् आवहति’ (bringing happiness)

Speaker

Bhartṛyajña

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A modest householder offers piṇḍa and water with kuśa grass to a seated brāhmaṇa; behind, subtle presence of Pitṛs receiving satisfaction; emphasis on simplicity and compassion toward the poor.

Characters & Entities

• Dvijendra (foremost brāhmaṇas)
• Śrāddha
• Daridra (the poor)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śrāddha is framed as an accessible dharma: sincere giving and honoring brāhmaṇas yields desired merit, even for those of limited means.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is explicitly named here; it supports the Gayāśiras-centered śrāddha teaching by emphasizing accessibility and fruit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer gifts/food in śrāddha, including honoring brāhmaṇas (dvijendras), in a way that is feasible for the poor.