Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणैः कारयेच्छ्राद्धं मूर्खैरपि द्विजोत्तमाः । चतुर्वेदा अपि त्याज्या अन्यस्थानसमुद्भवाः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaiḥ kārayecchrāddhaṃ mūrkhairapi dvijottamāḥ | caturvedā api tyājyā anyasthānasamudbhavāḥ

Translation

噢，最胜的二次生者：应令婆罗门主持施罗陀（śrāddha），纵使其学识浅薄亦可；但即便通晓四吠陀者，若出自他乡（非本地），亦当回避。

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणैः: by Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done / should have performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मूर्खैः: foolish
• मूर्खैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūrkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifier) ब्राह्मणैः

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/also)

• द्विज-उत्तमाः: excellent Brahmins
• द्विज-उत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विजेषु उत्तमाः (कर्मधारय)

• चतुर्-वेदाः: those versed in the four Vedas / the four-Veda (scholars)
• चतुर्-वेदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (संख्या) + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास (चारः वेदाः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• त्याज्याः: to be avoided/should be rejected
• त्याज्याः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) → त्याज्य (कृदन्त/यत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• अन्य-स्थान-समुद्भवाः: originating from another place
• अन्य-स्थान-समुद्भवाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); अन्यस्मात् स्थानात् समुद्भवः (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषण (qualifier) चतुर्-वेदाः/द्विजोत्तमाः

Speaker

Viśvāmitra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim chooses between two priest groups: local simple brāhmaṇas and non-local learned brāhmaṇas with manuscripts; Viśvāmitra directs the pilgrim to the locals, emphasizing deśa-adhikāra.

Characters & Entities

• Caturveda
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

For certain tīrtha-rites, rootedness in the sacred locale is valued over mere scholastic prestige, to preserve ritual integrity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Gayākūpī-centered tīrtha practice, where local ritual lineage is emphasized.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Arrange śrāddha through local brāhmaṇas; avoid non-local officiants even if they are highly learned (caturveda).