Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

न ब्राह्मणसमादिष्टं प्रायश्चित्त विशुद्धये

Transliteration

na brāhmaṇasamādiṣṭaṃ prāyaścitta viśuddhaye

Translation

جو پرایَشچت برہمنوں (اہلِ علم) نے مقرر نہ کیا ہو، اس سے پاکیزگی حاصل نہیں ہوتی۔

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• brāhmaṇa-samādiṣṭam: prescribed by a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇa-samādiṣṭam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-diś (दिश् धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययः—क्त (past passive participle) ‘समादिष्ट’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—ब्राह्मण + समादिष्ट (तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्राह्मणेन समादिष्टम्’ = prescribed by a Brahmin)

• prāyaścitta: O expiation (rite)
• prāyaścitta: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (vocative singular; address)

• viśuddhaye: for purification
• viśuddhaye: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (dative singular; purpose ‘for purification’)

Speaker

Elder/authority figure (contextual; verse is fragmentary but continues the counsel)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A council of learned brāhmaṇas (sabha) indicating the correct expiation; the penitent listens with folded hands; manuscripts and ritual diagrams present.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Atonement should follow authentic dharmic guidance; self-invented penances may miss the mark.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None in this line; it emphasizes proper procedure within the broader Tīrthamāhātmya narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

That prāyaścitta must be undertaken as prescribed by qualified brāhmaṇas/authoritative teachers.