Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । गणावसौ द्विजो धीमान्वेदवेदांगपारगः । स्मृत्युक्ताचारचंचुश्च प्रतीपः पापकर्मसु

Transliteration

brahmovāca | gaṇāvasau dvijo dhīmānvedavedāṃgapāragaḥ | smṛtyuktācāracaṃcuśca pratīpaḥ pāpakarmasu

Translation

梵天（Brahmā）说道：“此婆罗门睿智通达，精于吠陀及其支分（Vedāṅga）；勤行《忆传》（Smṛti）所教之戒行，并坚决反对罪业。”

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (Speaker/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Speech act/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• gaṇau: the two gaṇas
• gaṇau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• asau: that (person)
• asau: Karta (Apposition/सम्बोधन-निरपेक्ष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; दूरवाचक-सर्वनाम

• dvijaḥ: a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• dhīmān: intelligent
• dhīmān: Visheshana (Adjective of dvijaḥ/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessing intellect)

• veda-veda-aṅga-pāragaḥ: master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• veda-veda-aṅga-pāragaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pāraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“वेद-वेदाङ्गयोः पारगः” (one who has mastered Vedas and Vedāṅgas)

• smṛti-ukta-ācāra-caṃcuḥ: keen on conduct taught in the Smṛtis
• smṛti-ukta-ācāra-caṃcuḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (वच् धातु, क्त) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + caṃcu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“स्मृत्युक्ते आचारे चञ्चुः” (eager/intent on conduct prescribed in Smṛti)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• pratīpaḥ: hostile, opposed
• pratīpaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pāpa-karmasu: in sinful acts (towards them)
• pāpa-karmasu: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—“पापानि कर्माणि”

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (implied qualifying context)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śiva-gaṇas (and the brāhmaṇa as present hearer)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā speaks in assembly, praising the brāhmaṇa’s wisdom, Vedic accomplishment, smṛti-based conduct, and steadfast opposition to sin; gaṇas stand respectfully nearby.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Gaṇa
• Veda
• Vedāṅga
• Smṛti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma esteems learning joined with ethical discipline—Vedic knowledge must express itself as Smṛti-based right conduct and avoidance of sin.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly Kāśī, since this adhyāya sits in the Kāśī-khaṇḍa where dharmic living and sacred death/merit are framed by Kāśī’s greatness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is prescribed; the prescription is general: follow Smṛti-enjoined ācāra and avoid pāpa-karman.