[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) › 5.241 # Skandapurana 5.241 Skandapurāṇa 5.241 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [5.241.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.1) .. ṛṣaya ūcuḥ .. .. nārada uvāca .. .. aṣṭādaśa prakṛtayaḥ kā vadasva pitāmaha .. vṛttistāsāṃ ca ko dharmaḥ sarvaṃ vistarato mama .. 1 .. .. > The seers said: / Nārada said: / Speak, O Grandfather! What are the eighteen dependent classes, / and what is their livelihood and dharma? Tell me everything in detail. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.2) .. brahmovāca .. .. majjanmābhūdbhagavato nābhipaṃkajakośataḥ .. svakālaparimāṇena prabuddhasya jagatpateḥ .. 2 .. > Brahmā said: / My birth took place from the calyx of the navel-lotus of the Lord, / the Master of the universe, who had awakened according to the measure of His own time. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.3) tato bahutithe kāle keśavena purā smṛtaḥ .. sraṣṭukāmena vividhāḥ prajā manasi rājasīḥ .. 3 .. > Then, long ago, after a long span of time, Keśava remembered \[me\], / desiring in His mind to create various creatures dominated by the quality of passion. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.4) ahaṃ kamalajastatra jātaḥ putraścaturmukhaḥ .. udaraṃ nābhinālena praviśyātha vyalokayam .. 4 .. > I, the lotus-born, four-faced son, was born there. / Having entered the belly through the stalk of the navel, I then looked around. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.5) tatra brahmāṃḍakoṭīnāṃ darśanaṃ me'bhavatpunaḥ .. vismayācciṃtayānasya sṛṣṭyarthamabhidhāvatā .. 5 .. > There I had a vision of tens of millions of cosmic eggs. / Filled with wonder, running about for the purpose of creation as I contemplated, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.6) nirgamya punarevāhaṃ padmanālena yāvatā .. bahirāgāṃ vismṛtaṃ tatsarvaṃ sṛṣṭyarthakāraṇam .. 6 .. > I came out again through the lotus stalk, / but as soon as I emerged outside, I forgot all the means for the purpose of creation. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.7) punareva tato gatvā prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā caturvidhāḥ .. nābhinālena nirgatya vismṛtenāṃtarātmanā .. 7 .. > Then, having gone once more and created the fourfold creatures, / I emerged through the navel-stalk with an inner mind that had forgotten. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.8) tadāhaṃ jaḍavajjāto vāguvācāśarīriṇī .. tapastapa mahābuddhe jaḍatvaṃ nocitaṃ tava .. 8 .. > Then I became like one inert, and a bodiless voice spoke: / 'Perform austerity, O greatly intelligent one! Inertia is not suitable for you.' > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.9) daśavarṣasahasrāṇi tato'haṃ tapa āsthitaḥ.. punarākāśajā vāṇī māmuvācāvinaśvarā .. 9 .. > Thereupon I undertook austerity for ten thousand years. / Then an imperishable voice arising from the sky spoke to me again, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.10) vedarūpāśritā pūrvamāvirbhūtā tapobalāt .. tato bhagavatā''diṣṭaḥ sṛja tvaṃ bahudhā prajāḥ .. 6.242.10 .. > manifesting through the power of austerity, having previously taken refuge in the form of the Veda. / Then I was commanded by the Lord: 'Create creatures in many forms! > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.11) rājasaṃ guṇamāśritya bhūtasargamakalmaṣam .. manasā mānasī sṛṣṭiḥ prathamaṃ ciṃtitā mayā .. 11 .. > Having resorted to the quality of passion, \[create\] the faultless creation of beings.' / At first, a mental creation was conceived by me through the mind. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.12) tato vai brāhmaṇā jātā marīcyādimunīśvarāḥ .. teṣāṃ kanīyāṃstvaṃ jāto jñānavedāṃtapāragaḥ .. 12 .. > From that, indeed, brahmins were born, the lords of sages headed by Marīci. / You were born as the youngest of them, having traversed knowledge and Vedānta. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.13) karmaniṣṭhāśca te nityaṃ sṛṣṭyarthaṃ satatodyatāḥ .. nirvyāpāro viṣṇubhakta ekāṃtabrahmasevakaḥ .. 13 .. > They are devoted to action and ever striving for creation; / you are free from worldly engagement, a devotee of Viṣṇu, serving Brahman in solitude, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.14) nirmamo nirahaṃkāro mama tvaṃ mānasaḥ sutaḥ .. kramānmayā tu teṣāṃ vai vedarakṣārthameva ca .. 14 .. > free from possessiveness, free from egotism, my mind-born son. / Then, in due order, for the purpose of protecting the Vedas for them, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.15) prathamā mānasī sṛṣṭirdvijātyādirvinirmitā .. tatohamāṃgikīṃ sṛṣṭiṃ sṛṣṭavāṃstatra nārada .. 15 .. > the first mental creation of the twice-born classes and others was fashioned by me. / Then, O Nārada, I produced the bodily creation there. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.16) mukhācca brāhmaṇā jātā bāhubhyaḥ kṣatriyā mama .. vaiśyā ūrusamudbhūtāḥ padbhyāṃ śūdrā babhūvire .. 16 .. > Brahmins were born from my mouth, and Kṣatriyas from my arms; / Vaiśyas arose from my thighs, and Śūdras were born from my feet. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.17) anulomavilomābhya āṃkramācca kramayogataḥ .. śūdrādadho'dho jātāśca sarve pādatalodbhavāḥ .. 17 .. > Through direct and reverse order, systematically and in due course, / those born lower and lower than the Śūdra all arose from the soles of the feet. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.19) tāḥ sarvāstu prakṛtayo mama dehāṃśasaṃbhavāḥ .. nārada tvaṃ vijānīhi tāsāṃ nāmāni vacmi te .. 19 .. > All those dependent classes originated from parts of my body. / Understand this, O Nārada; I shall tell you their names. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.19\_1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.19_1) brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyastraya eva dvijātayaḥ .. vedāstapo'dhyayanaṃ ca yajanaṃ dānameva ca .. 19 .. > The brahmin, the Kṣatriya, and the Vaiśya: these three are the twice-born. / Their \[practices are\] the Vedas, austerity, study, sacrificing, and also giving gifts. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.20) vṛttiradhyāpanāccaiva tathā svalpapratigrahāt .. vipraḥ samarthastapasā yadyapi syātpratigrahe .. 6.242.20 .. > His livelihood is from teaching and from small gifts of acceptance. / Even if a brahmin is capable of receiving gifts on account of his austerity, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.21) tathāpi naiva gṛhṇīyāttaporakṣā yataḥ sadā .. vedapāṭho viṣṇupūjā brahmadhyānamalobhatā .. 21 .. > he should still not accept them, since the preservation of austerity is always \[paramount\]. / Recitation of the Veda, worship of Viṣṇu, meditation on Brahman, freedom from greed, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.22) akrodhatā nirmalatvaṃ kṣamāsāratvamāryatā .. kriyātatparatā dānakriyā satyādibhirguṇaiḥ .. 22 .. > freedom from anger, purity, essential forbearance, nobility, / devotion to ritual acts, the practice of charity, and the qualities of truth and the like— > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.23) bhūṣito yo bhavennityaṃ sa vipra iti kathyate .. kṣatriyeṇa tapaḥ kāryaṃ yajanaṃ dānameva ca .. 23 .. > he who is constantly adorned with these is called a brahmin. / By a Kṣatriya, austerity must be performed, as well as sacrificing and the giving of gifts, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.24) vedapāṭho viprabhaktireṣāṃ śastreṇa jīvanam.. strībālagobrāhmaṇārthe bhūmyarthe svāmisaṃkaṭe .. 24 .. > recitation of the Veda, and devotion to brahmins; their livelihood is by weapons / for women, children, cows, and brahmins, for the sake of the land, and in crisis to their lord, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.25) saṃpratiśaraṇaṃ caiva pīḍitānāṃ ca śabdite .. ārtatrāṇaparā ye ca kṣatriyā brahmaṇā kṛtāḥ .. 25 .. > and also offering refuge at once when the cry of the afflicted sounds; / those devoted to rescuing the distressed were made Kṣatriyas by Brahmā. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.26) dhanavṛddhikaro vaiśyaḥ paśupālaḥ kṛṣīvalaḥ .. rasādīnāṃ ca vikretā devabrāhmaṇapūjakaḥ .. 26 .. > The Vaiśya increases wealth, tends cattle, practices agriculture, / sells liquids and the like, and worships gods and brahmins. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.27) arthavṛddhikaro vyājā yajñakarmādikārakaḥ .. dānamadhyayanaṃ ceti vaiśyavṛttirudāhṛtā .. 27 .. > Increasing wealth through lending, performing sacrifices and the like, / giving, and study: this is declared to be the livelihood of a Vaiśya. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.28) etānyeva hyamaṃtrāṇi śūdraḥ kārayate sadā .. nityaṃ ṣaḍdaivataṃ śrāddhaṃ hantakāro'gni tarpaṇam.. 28 .. > A Śūdra always has these very acts performed without mantras: / the daily śrāddha to six deities, the portion of food given to guests, and oblations to the fire. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.29) devadvijātibhaktiśca namaskāreṇa siddhyati .. śūdro'pi prātarutthāya kṛtvā pādābhivaṃdanam .. 29 .. > Devotion to gods and twice-born persons is accomplished through prostration. / Even a Śūdra, rising early in the morning and performing salutation at the feet \[of superiors\], > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.30) viṣṇubhaktimayāñślokānpaṭhanviṣṇutvamāpnuyāt.. vārṣikavratakṛnnityaṃ tithivārādhidaivataḥ .. 6.242.30 .. > and reciting verses full of devotion to Viṣṇu, can attain Viṣṇuhood. / Constantly observing annual vows, \[honoring\] the presiding deities of lunar days and days of the week, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.31) annadaḥ sarvajīvānāṃ gṛhasthaḥ śūdra īritaḥ .. amaṃtrāṇyapi karmāṇi kurvanneva hi mucyate .. 31 .. > giving food to all living beings, the householder is said to be a \[virtuous\] Śūdra. / Performing duties even without mantras, he is indeed liberated. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.32) cāturmāsyavratakaraḥ śūdro'pi haritāṃ vrajet .. śilpī ca nartakaścaiva kāṣṭhakāraḥ prajāpatiḥ .. 32 .. > Even a Śūdra who observes vows during Cāturmāsya attains state of Hari. / An artisan, a dancer, a carpenter, a potter, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.33) vardhakiścitrakaścaiva sūtrako rajakastathā .. gacchakastantukāraśca cakrikaścarmakārakaḥ .. 33 .. > a woodworker, a painter, a weaver, a washerman, / a reed-worker, a spinner, an oilman, a leatherworker, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.34) sūniko dhvanikaścaiva kaulhiko matsyaghātakaḥ .. aunāmikastu caṃḍālaḥ prakṛtyāṣṭādaśaiva te .. 34 .. > a butcher, a musician, a potter/distiller, a fisherman, / a basket-maker, and a caṇḍāla: these are the eighteen dependent classes. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.35) śilpikaḥ svarṇakārakaśca dārukaḥ kāṃsyakārakaḥ .. kāḍukaḥ kumbhakāraśca prakṛtyā uttamāśca ṣaṭ .. 35 .. > The craft-artisan, goldsmith, woodcutter, brazier, / iron-worker, and potter are the six highest among the dependent classes. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.36) kharavāhyuṣṭravāhī hayavāhī tathaiva ca .. gopāla iṣṭikākāro adhamādhamapañcakam .. 36 .. > The donkey-carrier, camel-carrier, horse-carrier, / cowherd, and brickmaker are the five lowest of the low. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.37) rajakaścarmakāraśca naṭo buruḍa eva ca .. kaivarttamedabhillāśca saptaite antyajāḥ smṛtāḥ ..37.. > The washerman, leatherworker, actor, reed-worker, / fisherman, Meda, and Bhilla: these seven are remembered as outcasts. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.38) yo yasya hīno varṇena sa cāṣṭādaśamo naraḥ .. sarvāsāṃ prakṛtīnāṃ ca uttamā madhyamāḥ samāḥ ..38.. > Whosoever is lower by caste than each is the eighteenth person. / Among all these dependent classes, there are high, middle, and equal: > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.39) bhedāstrayaḥ samākhyātā vijñeyāḥ smṛtinirṇayāt .. śilpinaḥ sapta vijñeyā uttamāḥ samudāhṛtāḥ .. 39 .. > three divisions are declared, to be known from the determination of the Smṛtis. / Seven artisans are to be known and proclaimed as the highest. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.40) svarṇakṛtkaṃbukaścaiva tandulīpuṣpalāvakaḥ .. tāṃbūlī nāpitaścaiva maṇikāraśca saptadhā .. 6.242.40 .. > The goldsmith, the shell-cutter, the grain-cleaner, the flower-gatherer, / the betel-seller, the barber, and the jeweler—these are the sevenfold classes. \[6.242.40\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.41) na snānaṃ devatāhomastaponiyama eva ca .. na svādhyāyavaṣaṭkārau na ca śuddhirvivāhitā .. 41 .. > There is no \[obligatory\] ritual ablution, no oblation to deities, no austerity or religious vow, / no Vedic recitation, no vaṣaṭ-utterance, and no purification through marriage. \[41\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.42) etāsāṃ prakṛtīnāṃ ca gurupūjā sadoditā .. viprāṇāṃ prākṛto nityaṃ dānameva paro vidhiḥ .. 42 .. > For these ordinary folks, worship of the guru is always proclaimed; / for these common people, giving gifts continually to brahmins is the supreme rule. \[42\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.43) sarveṣāmeva varṇānāmāśramāṇāṃ mahāmune .. sarvāsāṃ prakṛtīnāṃ ca viṣṇubhaktiḥ sadā śubhā .. 43 .. > For all classes and stages of life, O great sage, / and for all the common people, devotion to Viṣṇu is always auspicious. \[43\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.44) iti te kathitaṃ sarvaṃ yathāprakṛtisaṃbhavam .. kathāṃ śṛṇu mahāpuṇyāṃ śūdraḥ śuddhimagādyathā .. 44 .. > Thus all has been told to you according to the origin of the common folk. / Now hear the exceedingly meritorious tale of how a śūdra attained purity. \[44\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.45) idaṃ purāṇaṃ paramaṃ pavitraṃ viśuddhadhīryastu śṛṇoti vā paṭhet .. vidhūya pāpāni purārjitāni sa yāti viṣṇorbhavanaṃ kriyāparaḥ .. 45 .. > Whoever, with a purified mind, listens to or recites this supreme, holy Purāṇa, / shaking off sins accumulated in past lives and devoted to pious acts, goes to the abode of Viṣṇu. \[45\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.241.242](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241.242) iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhe nāgarakhaṇḍe hāṭakeśvarakṣetramāhātmye śeṣaśāyyupākhyāne brahmanāradasaṃvāde cāturmāsyamāhātmye'ṣṭādaśaprakṛtikathanaṃnāma dvicatvāriṃśaduttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ .. 242 .. > Thus ends the two hundred and forty-second chapter, entitled 'The Explanation of the Eighteen Folk Classes', in the context of the eulogy of the four-month vow, in the dialogue between Brahmā and Nārada, within the story of Śeṣaśāyin, in the praise of the sacred field of Hāṭakeśvara, in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa, the sixth \[part\] of the auspicious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa comprising eighty-one thousand verses. \[242\] > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda~en-mt.5.241.1) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.241) · Pramāṇa