Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

तयोरपि मतं ज्ञात्वा स विदर्भमहीपतिः । प्रहस्य किंचित्प्रोवाच लोकतत्त्वविवित्सया

Transliteration

tayorapi mataṃ jñātvā sa vidarbhamahīpatiḥ | prahasya kiṃcitprovāca lokatattvavivitsayā

Translation

毗达婆之王既知其意，便含笑略言数句，欲探明世间真实之理与行道。

Word by Word

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन

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

• मतम्: opinion/intent
• मतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having known)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विदर्भमहीपतिः: the ruler of Vidarbha
• विदर्भमहीपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विदर्भस्य महीपतिः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रहस्य: smiling/laughing
• प्रहस्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘प्रहस्य’ = having laughed/smiled

• किंचित्: a little
• किंचित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; परिमाणवाचक (somewhat/a little)

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke
• प्रोवाच: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लोकतत्त्वविवित्सया: from a desire to know the truth of the world
• लोकतत्त्वविवित्सया: Hetu (Cause/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विवित्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (लोकतत्त्वस्य विवित्सा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ (by/with the desire)

Speaker

King of Vidarbha (about to speak)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Vidarbha king smiles knowingly, leaning slightly forward as he begins to question the two brāhmaṇa youths, seeking to understand their worldly situation and intent.

Characters & Entities

• Vidarbha
• Vidarbhamahīpati (King of Vidarbha)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even rulers should inquire into lokatattva—how dharma operates in society—before acting, especially in matters of support and giving.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse introduces a reflective royal conversation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it sets up the king’s inquiry that leads into the next description.