Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

विष्णुभक्तिरतैश्चैव वेदमन्त्रविपाठकैः । सततं दानशीलैश्च दीनार्तजनवत्सलैः

Transliteration

viṣṇubhaktirataiścaiva vedamantravipāṭhakaiḥ | satataṃ dānaśīlaiśca dīnārtajanavatsalaiḥ

Translation

Dapat silang maging masidhi sa bhakti kay Viṣṇu, masipag sa pagbigkas ng mga mantra ng Veda, laging handang magbigay ng kawanggawa, at mahabagin sa mga dukha at sa mga nagdurusa.

Word by Word

• विष्णु-भक्ति-रतैः: by those devoted to Viṣṇu-bhakti
• विष्णु-भक्ति-रतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘रत’ (attached) to implied persons

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वेद-मन्त्र-विपाठकैः: by reciters of Vedic mantras
• वेद-मन्त्र-विपाठकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विपाठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘विपाठक’ = reciter/chanter

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverb)

• दान-शीलैः: by those of charitable disposition
• दान-शीलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शील’ = having the habit/nature

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दीन-आर्त-जन-वत्सलैः: by those affectionate to the poor and distressed people
• दीन-आर्त-जन-वत्सलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘वत्सल’ = affectionate toward

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim-householder offers tulasī and lamp to Viṣṇu, recites from a manuscript, then distributes food and cloth to the poor and tends to an afflicted traveler near a dharmaśālā.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhakti and mantra-practice must express themselves as generosity and compassion toward suffering beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse describes virtues promoted within the Tīrthamāhātmya section.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vedic mantra recitation, devotion to Viṣṇu, and continual charity—especially to the needy and afflicted.