Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

श्यावदन्तान्वृथादन्तान्वेदविक्रयकारकान् । वेदविप्लवकान्वापि वेदशास्त्रविवर्जितान्

Transliteration

śyāvadantānvṛthādantānvedavikrayakārakān | vedaviplavakānvāpi vedaśāstravivarjitān

Translation

(พึงเว้น) ผู้มีฟันดำ ผู้มีฟันเป็นโรคหรือไร้ประโยชน์; ผู้ขายพระเวทให้ความรู้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์กลายเป็นการค้า; ผู้บ่อนทำลายพระเวท; และผู้ปราศจากวินัยแห่งพระเวทและศาสตรา

Word by Word

• श्यावदन्तान्: those with dark/blackened teeth
• श्यावदन्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याव + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘श्यावाः दन्ताः यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीहिः; विशेषणम् (masc. acc. pl.)

• वृथादन्तान्: those with useless/defective teeth
• वृथादन्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृथा + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वृथाः/व्यर्थाः दन्ताः यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीहिः; विशेषणम् (masc. acc. pl.)

• वेदविक्रयकारकान्: those who sell the Veda (dealers in Vedic sale)
• वेदविक्रयकारकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + विक्रय + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वेदस्य विक्रयस्य कारक’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nested); विशेषणम् (masc. acc. pl.)

• वेदविप्लवकान्: disturbers/corruptors of the Veda
• वेदविप्लवकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + विप्लवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वेदस्य विप्लवकः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषणम् (masc. acc. pl.)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (also/even)

• वेदशास्त्रविवर्जितान्: devoid of Veda and śāstra
• वेदशास्त्रविवर्जितान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + शास्त्र + विवर्जित (कृदन्त; वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वेदशास्त्रेभ्यः विवर्जित’ इति पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः विशेषणम् (masc. acc. pl.)

Speaker

Bhartṛyajña (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A householder at a tīrtha prepares śrāddha offerings; a learned, calm brāhmaṇa is welcomed while figures symbolizing Veda-vikraya and Veda-viplava are respectfully turned away; ritual vessels, darbha, and piṇḍa-plates are arranged near water.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Śāstra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred rites demand reverence for the Veda; those who commercialize or subvert scriptural truth are unfit for ritual honor.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is referenced; the focus is on safeguarding the integrity of Śrāddha through proper eligibility.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Exclude from Śrāddha those who sell or undermine Vedic knowledge and those lacking Vedic-śāstric discipline.