Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायाढ्यं योगवंतं प्रशांतं पुराणज्ञं पापभीरुं वदान्यम् । स्त्रीषु क्षान्तं धार्मिकं गोशरण्यं व्रतैः क्रान्तं तादृशं पात्रमाहुः

Transliteration

svādhyāyāḍhyaṃ yogavaṃtaṃ praśāṃtaṃ purāṇajñaṃ pāpabhīruṃ vadānyam | strīṣu kṣāntaṃ dhārmikaṃ gośaraṇyaṃ vrataiḥ krāntaṃ tādṛśaṃ pātramāhuḥ

Translation

ผู้ที่เรียกว่า ‘ผู้ควรรับ’ นั้นคือผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยการสวดศึกษาพระเวท (สวาธยายะ) ตั้งมั่นในโยคะ สงบระงับ รู้ปุราณะ เกรงกลัวบาป ใจกว้าง; อดทนและสำรวมต่อสตรี ตั้งอยู่ในธรรม เป็นที่พึ่งแก่โค และฝึกตนด้วยวรตะทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायाढ्यम्: rich in self-study (Vedic learning)
• स्वाध्यायाढ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वाध्यायेन आढ्यः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पात्र-विशेषण

• योगवन्तम्: endowed with yoga
• योगवन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पात्र-विशेषण

• प्रशान्तम्: calm/peaceful
• प्रशान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + शम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुराणज्ञम्: knower of the Purāṇas
• पुराणज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुराणानां ज्ञः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापभीरुम्: afraid of sin
• पापभीरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (पापात् भीरुः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वदान्यम्: generous
• वदान्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वदान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्त्रीषु: towards women
• स्त्रीषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; अधिकरण (in relation to women)

• क्षान्तम्: forbearing/patient
• क्षान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धार्मिकम्: righteous
• धार्मिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गोशरण्यम्: a refuge/protector for cows
• गोशरण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (गवां शरण्यः/गोभ्यः शरण्यः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्रतैः: by vows/observances
• व्रतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण (by means of vows)

• क्रान्तम्: disciplined/steadfast (through vows)
• क्रान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP; 'one who has gone through/overcome'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तादृशम्: such
• तादृशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पात्र-विशेषण

• पात्रम्: recipient/vessel (worthy person)
• पात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• आहुः: they say/call
• आहुः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene yogin-scholar sits with Veda and Purāṇa manuscripts, prayer beads, and a calm gaze; nearby, protected cows rest under his care; the donor approaches reverently, highlighting the recipient’s virtues as a ‘living tīrtha’.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The merit of charity depends greatly on the recipient’s character—learning, self-control, righteousness, and compassion elevate the gift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where dāna offered to a true supātra is especially praised.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Guidance for selecting a supātra for dāna: learned, peaceful, vow-observant, and protective of dharma (including care for cows).