Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

आसीद्विदर्भविषये नाम्ना सत्यरथो नृपः । सर्वधर्मरतो धीरः सुशीलः सत्यसंगरः

Transliteration

āsīdvidarbhaviṣaye nāmnā satyaratho nṛpaḥ | sarvadharmarato dhīraḥ suśīlaḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ

Translation

كان في بلاد فيداربها ملكٌ يُدعى ساتياراثا؛ ثابتًا على كل واجبٍ من واجبات الدارما، شجاعًا، حسنَ السيرة، لا يلين في التزامه بالحقّ والصدق.

Word by Word

• आसीत्: was/existed
• आसीत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• विदर्भविषये: in the region of Vidarbha
• विदर्भविषये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भ + विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम् (singular)

• सत्यरथः: Satyaratha (proper name)
• सत्यरथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• नृपः: king
• नृपः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• सर्वधर्मरतः: devoted to all dharmas
• सर्वधर्मरतः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + धर्म + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• धीरः: steadfast, wise
• धीरः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• सुशीलः: well-conducted, virtuous
• सुशीलः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• सत्यसंगरः: true in battle / of truthful combat (epithet)
• सत्यसंगरः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + संगार/संगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (singular)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced: narrative style within Brahma Khaṇḍa)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis / ‘munipuṅgava’ addressed

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A composed king Satyaratha seated in a royal sabhā, receiving counsel of sages; symbols of dharma (balance/scale, śāstra, sacrificial fire) and satya (upright posture, calm gaze).

Characters & Entities

• Satyaratha
• Vidarbha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kingship is sanctified when rooted in dharma, self-control, and unwavering truth.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it sets a dharmic royal context in Vidarbha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None here; the verse emphasizes character and rajadharma rather than a rite.