[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Purāṇas](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) › [Skandapurana](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda) › 5.240 # Skandapurana 5.240 Skandapurāṇa 5.240 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [5.240.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.1) .. īśvara uvāca .. .. etatte pūjanaṃ viṣṇoḥ ṣoḍaśopāyasaṃbhavam .. kathitaṃ yaddvijaḥ kṛtvā prāpnoti paramaṃ padam .. 1 .. > Īśvara said: / This worship of Viṣṇu consisting of sixteen steps has been told to you, / performing which a twice-born reaches the supreme state. 1 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.2) tathā ca kṣatriyaviśāṃ karaṇānmuktiruttamā .. śūdrāṇāṃ nādhikāro'sminstrīṇāṃ naiva kadācana .. 2 .. > And likewise, through its performance, supreme liberation belongs to Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas. / Śūdras have no qualification for this, and women never at all. 2 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.3) .. kārtikeya uvāca .. .. śūdrāṇāṃ ca tathā strīṇāṃ dharmaṃ vistarato vada .. kena muktirbhavetteṣāṃ kṛṣṇasyārādhanaṃ vinā .. 3 .. > Kārtikeya said: / Speak in detail of the dharma for Śūdras and likewise for women. / By what means would liberation come to them without the worship of Kṛṣṇa? 3 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.4) .. īśvara uvāca .. .. sacchūdrairapi no kāryā vedākṣaravicāraṇā .. na śrotavyā na paṭhyā ca paṭhannarakabhāgbhavet .. 4 .. > Īśvara said: / Even good Śūdras must not deliberate on the syllables of the Veda; / they must not hear them nor recite them; by reciting, one would go to hell. 4 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.5) purāṇānāṃ naiva pāṭhaḥ śravaṇaṃ kārayetsadā .. smṛtyuktaṃ sugurorgrāhyaṃ na pāṭhaḥ śravaṇādikam .. 5 .. > No reading of the Purāṇas \[is allowed for them\]; one should always have them listen. / What is spoken in the Smṛti should be received from a good guru; no reading, hearing \[the Vedas\], or the like \[is permitted\]. 5 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.6) .. skaṃda uvāca .. .. sacchūdrāḥ ke samākhyātāstāṃśca vistarato vada .. ke saṃtaḥ ke ca śūdrāśca sacchūdrā nāmataśca ke .. 6 .. > Skanda said: / Who are declared to be noble śūdras? Speak of them in detail: / who are the righteous, who are the śūdras, and who are noble śūdras by name? > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.7) .. īśvara uvāca .. .. dharmoḍhā yasya patnī syātsa sacchūdra udāhṛtaḥ .. samānakularūpā ca daśadoṣavivarjitā .. 7 .. > Īśvara said: / He who has a wife wedded according to righteousness is declared a noble śūdra: / one equal in family and appearance, free from the ten defects, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.8) udvoḍhā vedavidhinā sa sacchūdraḥ prakīrtitaḥ .. aklīvā'vyaṃginī śastā mahārogādyadūṣitā .. 8 .. > wedded in accordance with the Vedic rite, he is proclaimed a noble śūdra. / She should be non-sterile, free from physical deformities, commendable, untainted by major diseases and the like, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.9) aniṃditā śubhakalā cakṣurogavivarjitā .. bādhiryahīnā capalā kanyā madhurabhāṣiṇī .. 9 .. > blameless, possessed of auspicious arts, free from eye disease, / free from deafness, nimble, a young maiden speaking sweetly, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.10) dūṣaṇairdaśabhirhīnā vedoktavidhinā naraiḥ .. vivāhitā ca sā patnī gṛhiṇī yasya sarvadā .. 6.241.10 .. > free from the ten blemishes, and married by men according to the rite enjoined in the Veda. / He whose wife is constantly such a mistress of the house, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.11) sacchūdraḥ sa tu vijñeyo devādīnāṃ vibhāgakṛt .. puṇyakāryeṣu sarveṣu prathamaṃ sā prakīrtitā .. 11 .. > he should be known as a noble śūdra, one who offers shares to the gods and others. / In all meritorious acts, she is proclaimed first. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.12) tayā suvihito dharmaḥ saṃpūrṇaphaladāyakaḥ .. cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa tayā saha guṇādhikaḥ .. 12 .. > The duty properly performed with her yields complete fruit; / during Cāturmāsya especially, along with her, its virtue is multiplied. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.13) bhāryāratiḥ śucirbhṛtyādīnāṃ poṣaṇatatparaḥ .. śrāddhādikārako nityamiṣṭāpūrttaprasādhakaḥ .. 13 .. > Delighting in his wife, pure, intent on supporting his servants and dependents, / perpetually performing śrāddha and the like, accomplishing sacrifices and charitable works, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.14) namaskārāntamantreṇa nāmasaṃkīrtanena ca .. devā stasya ca tuṣyanti paṃcayajñādikaiḥ śubhaiḥ .. 14 .. > with mantras ending in namas, and through the chanting of \[the Lord's\] names, / and with the auspicious five daily sacrifices and the like, the gods are pleased with him. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.15) snānaṃ ca tarpaṇaṃ caiva vahnihomo'pyamaṃtrakaḥ .. brahmayajño'titheḥ pūjā paṃcayajñānna saṃtyajet .. 15 .. > Ritual ablution, libation, the fire oblation without mantras, / the sacrifice to Brahmā, and the worship of guests: one should not abandon the five daily sacrifices. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.16) kāryaṃ strībhiśca śūdraiśca hyamaṃtraṃ paṃcayajñakam .. paṃcayajñaiśca saṃtuṣṭā yathaiṣāṃ pitṛdevatāḥ .. 16 .. > The five daily sacrifices without mantras are to be performed by women and by śūdras; / and the gods and ancestors are pleased by their five daily sacrifices, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.17) tathā pativratāyāśca patiśuśrūṣayā sadā .. pativratāyā dehe tu sarve devā vasaṃti hi .. 17 .. > as well as by a devoted wife's constant attendance upon her husband. / In the body of a devoted wife, indeed, all the gods dwell. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.18) atastābhyāṃ sametābhyāṃ dharmādīnāṃ samāgamaḥ .. yadobhayormate pṛṣṭe saṃtuṣṭāḥ pitṛdevatāḥ .. 18 .. > Therefore, when the two are united, there is a meeting of righteousness and the other aims of life; / when both are asked their consent, the ancestors and gods are satisfied. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.19) kāryādīnāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ saṃgamastatra nityadā .. cāturmāsye samāyāte viṣṇubhaktyā tayoḥ śivam .. 19 .. > And in all duties and undertakings, there is their union at all times. / When Cāturmāsya arrives, through devotion to Viṣṇu, good fortune comes to them both. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.20) samānajātisaṃbhūtā patnī yasya dhṛtā bhavet .. pūrvo bharttā'rddhabhāgī syāddvitīyasya na kiṃcana .. 6.241.20 .. > If a man takes a wife born of the same caste, / the first husband receives half the share, but for a second \[husband\] there is none at all. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.21) arthakāryādhikāro'syāstena dharmārdhadhāriṇī .. svaṃsvaṃ kṛtaṃ sadaiva syāttayoḥ karma śubhāśubham .. .. 21 .. > She has authority over wealth and duties; therefore she upholds half of the merit. / Auspicious or inauspicious, their deed is always performed individually by each. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.22) yā'nugacchati bhartāraṃ mṛtaṃ sutapasā dvija .. sādhvī sā hi parijñeyā tayā coddhriyate kulam .. 22 .. > A woman who follows her deceased husband through great austerity, O twice-born, / is to be recognized as a virtuous wife; by her the family is delivered. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.23) anyajātermṛtasyātha dhṛtā vāpi vivāhitā .. vaiśvānarasya mārgeṇa sā tamuddharate patim .. 23 .. > Whether taken or wedded to one of another caste who has died, / by the path of the Fire she delivers that husband. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.24) yathā jalācca jaṃbālaḥ kṛṣyate dhārmikairnṛbhiḥ .. evamuddharate sādhvī bharttāraṃ yā'nuga cchati .. 24 .. > Just as mud is pulled from the water by righteous men, / so does the virtuous wife deliver the husband whom she follows \[in death\]. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.25) anyajātisamudbhūtā anyena vidhṛtā yadi .. tāvubhau dharmakāryeṣu saṃtyājyau nityadā matau .. 25 .. > If a woman born of another caste is taken by another man, / both of them are considered always to be excluded from religious rites. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.26) svaṃsvaṃ karma prakurutaḥ satkarma jaṃ svakaṃ phalam .. tasmādvariṣṭhā hīnā vā satkulyā śūdrasaṃbhavaiḥ .. 26 .. > Each performs their own deed, and each obtains the fruit born of virtuous deeds. / Therefore, whether superior or inferior, a woman of good family taken by those born of śūdras > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.27) dhṛtā na kāryā sā patnī yatkaroti na varddhate .. tayā saha kṛtaṃ puṇyaṃ varddhate daśadhottaram .. 27 .. > should not be made his wife; whatever she does does not increase. / The merit performed with her increases tenfold, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.28) anantatṛptidaṃ naiva tatsutairapi vā tathā .. krayakrītā ca yā kanyā dāsī sā parikīrtitā .. 28 .. > yet it does not grant endless satisfaction, nor likewise \[does that done\] by her sons. / A maiden purchased with wealth is proclaimed a female slave. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.29) sacchūdrasyādhikāre sā kadācinnaiva jāyate .. yā kanyā svayamudyamya pitrā dattā varāya ca .. 29 .. > She never belongs to the status of a noble śūdra. / A maiden whom a father gives to a bridegroom having exerted himself, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.30) vivāhavidhinodūḍhā pitṛdevārthasādhinī .. sulakṣaṇā vinītā sā vivekādiguṇā śubhā .. 6.241.30 .. > wedded according to the marriage rite, fulfilling the purposes of the ancestors and gods, / possessed of auspicious marks, humble, endowed with discernment and virtues, auspicious, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.31) saccaritrā patiparā sā tebhyo dātumarhati .. viśuddhakulajā kanyā dharmoḍhā dharmacāriṇī .. 31 .. > of good conduct, devoted to her husband: such a maiden he should give to them. / A maiden born of a pure family, wedded according to righteousness, walking in righteousness, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.32) sā punāti kulaṃ sarvaṃ mātṛtaḥ pitṛtastathā .. eṣa eva mayā proktaḥ sacchūdrāṇāṃ paro vidhiḥ .. 32 .. > purifies her entire family, both on the mother's side and on the father's. / This supreme rule for noble śūdras has indeed been declared by me. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.33) adhojātisamudbhūtā sacchūdrātkramahīnajā .. vivāho daśadhā teṣāṃ daśadhā putratā bhavet .. 33 .. > For those born of lower castes, born lower in order from a noble śūdra, / their marriage is of ten kinds, and their sonship is of ten kinds. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.34) catvāra uttamāḥ proktā vivāhā munisattama .. śeṣāḥ sarvaprakṛtiṣu kathitāśca purāvidaiḥ . 34 .. > Four marriages are proclaimed superior, O best of sages; / the remaining ones among all common people have been declared by knowers of the past: > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.35) prājāpatyastathā brāhmo daivārṣo cātiśobhanā .. gāṃdharvaścāsuraścaiva rākṣasaśca piśācakaḥ ..35.. > the Prājāpatya, the Brāhma, the Daiva, and the Ārṣa are very auspicious; / the Gāndharva, the Āsura, the Rākṣasa, and the Paiśāca, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.36) prātibho ghātanaśceti vivāhāḥ kathitā daśa .. ete hi hīnajātīnāṃ vivāhāḥ parikīrtitāḥ ..36.. > the Prātibha, and the Ghātana—these ten marriages are declared. / These are indeed proclaimed as the marriages of the lower castes. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.37) aurasaḥ kṣetrajaścaiva dattaḥ kṛtrima eva ca .. gūḍhotpanno'paviddhaśca kānīnaśca sahoḍhajaḥ ..37.. > The body-born (aurasa), the wife-born (kṣetraja), the adopted (datta), and the artificial (kṛtrima), / the secretly born (gūḍhotpanna), the cast-off (apaviddha), the maiden-born (kānīna), the pregnant-bride's son (sahodhaja), > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.38) krītaḥ paunarbhavaścāpi putrā daśavidhāḥ smṛtāḥ .. aurasādapi hīnāśca te'pi teṣāṃ śubhāvahāḥ .. 38 .. > the purchased (krīta), and the twice-married woman's son (paunarbhava): these ten kinds of sons are recorded. / Even those lower than the body-born bring auspiciousness to them. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.39) aṣṭādaśamitā nīcāḥ prakṛtānāṃ yathātathā .. vidhinaiva kriyā naiva smṛti mārgo'pi naiva ca ..39.. > The low castes are eighteen in number, of the common folk as they are; / they have no rites according to Vedic rule, nor even the path of the Smṛtis. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.39\_1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.39_1) tāsāṃ brāhmaṇaśuśrūṣā viṣṇudhyānaṃ śivārcanam .. amantrātpuṇyakaraṇaṃ dānaṃ deyaṃ ca vai sadā ..6.241.4... > For them, service to brahmins, meditation on Viṣṇu, worship of Śiva, / performance of meritorious deeds without mantras, and charity should always be given. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.41) na dānasya kṣayo loke śraddhayā yatpradīyate .. aśraddhayā'śucitayā dānaṃ vairasyakāraṇam .. 41 .. > There is no destruction of a gift in the world that is given with faith; / a gift \[given\] without faith or in impurity is a cause of enmity. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.42) ahiṃsādi samādiṣṭo dharmastāsāṃ mahāphalaḥ .. cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa tridiveśādisevayā ..42.. > Non-injury and the like are enjoined as their duty yielding great fruit, / especially during Cāturmāsya, by serving the Lord of heaven and others. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.43) sudarśanaistathā dharmaḥ sevyate hyavirodhibhiḥ \[. sacchūdrairdānapuṇyaiśca dvijaśuśrūṣaṇādibhiḥ..43.. > Likewise, duty is observed by righteous men who do not oppose \[the rule\], / by noble śūdras through gifts, merits, and service to the twice-born and the like. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.44) vṛttiśca satyānṛtajā vāṇijyavyava hārajā .. aśītibhāgamāradyādvyājādvārdhuṣikaḥ śate ..44.. > Their livelihood arises from truth and falsehood, born of trade and commerce. / An eightieth part is taken as profit by a usurer on a hundred; > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.45) sapādabhāgavṛddhistu kṣattriyādiṣu gṛhyate .. evaṃ na bandho bhavati pātakasya kadācana..45.. > an interest of one and a quarter parts is taken from kṣatriyas and others. / Thus, there is never any bondage of sin. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.46) prātaḥkarma sureśānāṃ madhyāhne dvijasevanam .. aparāhṇe'tha kāryāṇi kurvanmartyaḥ sukhī bhavet .. 46 .. > Morning rites for the lord of gods, attendance upon the twice-born at midday, / and performing duties in the afternoon: a mortal doing this becomes happy. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.47](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.47) gṛhasthaiśca sadā bhāvyaṃ yāvajjīvaṃ kriyāparaiḥ .. paṃcayajñarataiścaivātithidvijasupūjakaiḥ .. 47 .. > Householders should always be intent on rites as long as life lasts, / devoted to the five daily sacrifices, honoring guests and the twice-born, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.48) viṣṇubhaktirataiścaiva vedamantravipāṭhakaiḥ .. satataṃ dānaśīlaiśca dīnārtajanavatsalaiḥ .. 48 .. > devoted to devotion to Viṣṇu, non-reciters of Vedic mantras, / constantly inclined to charity, compassionate toward the poor and afflicted, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.49) kṣamādiguṇasaṃyuktairdvādaśākṣarapūjakaiḥ .. ṣaḍakṣaramahodgāraparamānandapūritaiḥ .. 49 .. > endowed with forbearance and other virtues, worshipers of the twelve-syllable \[mantra\], / and filled with supreme bliss by the great utterance of the six syllables. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.50](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.50) sadapatyaiḥ sadācāraiḥ satāṃ śuśrūṣaṇairapi .. vimatsaraiḥ sadā stheyaṃ tāpakleśavivarjitaiḥ .. 6.241.50 .. > With good children, of good conduct, serving the virtuous, / free from malice, they should always live free from the affliction of suffering. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.51](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.51) pravrajyāvarjanairevaṃ sacchūdrairdharmatatparaiḥ .. toṣaṇaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ kāryaṃ vittānusārataḥ .. 51 .. > Thus, avoiding wandering asceticism, virtuous Śūdras devoted to dharma / should bring satisfaction to all beings according to their wealth. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.52) sadā viṣṇuśivādīnāṃ ye bhaktāste narāḥ sadā .. devavaddivi dīvyaṃti cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ .. 52 .. > Those men who are constantly devoted to Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the other deities / always sport like gods in heaven, especially \[by vows\] during Cāturmāsya. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.240.241](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240.241) iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhe nāgarakhaṇḍe hāṭakeśvara kṣetramāhātmye śeṣaśāyyupākhyāna brahmanāradasaṃvāde cāturmāsyamāhātmye tapo'dhikāre sacchūdrakathanaṃnāmaikacatvāriṃśaduttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ .. .. 241 .. > Thus ends the two hundred and forty-first chapter, entitled 'Discourse on the Virtuous Śūdra' in the section on austerity, in the praise of Cāturmāsya, in the dialogue between Brahmā and Nārada in the narrative of Śeṣaśāyin, in the praise of the sacred field of Hāṭakeśvara, in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa, the sixth \[part\] of the eighty-one-thousand-verse collection of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda~en-mt.5.240.1) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [Nīlādrimahodaya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vernacular.odia.purana.niladrimahodaya.48.41) — Mahādeva Dāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.240) · Pramāṇa