Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 9
कृतधीभ्योऽपि कर्तारः कर्तृभ्यो ब्रह्मतत्पराः । न तेभ्योऽभ्यधिकः कश्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत
kṛtadhībhyo'pi kartāraḥ kartṛbhyo brahmatatparāḥ | na tebhyo'bhyadhikaḥ kaścittriṣu lokeṣu bhārata
কৃতবুদ্ধিতকৈও কৰ্তাসকল—যিসকলে ধৰ্মক কৰ্মত ৰূপ দিয়ে—শ্ৰেষ্ঠ; কৰ্তাসকলতকৈ ব্ৰহ্মতৎপৰ, যিসকলে ব্ৰহ্মনত সম্পূৰ্ণ নিবিষ্ট, অধিক শ্ৰেষ্ঠ। হে ভাৰত! ত্ৰিলোকত তেওঁলোকতকৈ অধিক কোনো নাই।
Vyāsa
Listener: Bhārata (Janamejaya)
Scene: A climactic teaching scene: Vyāsa points to two archetypes—one engaged in righteous action (dharma-kartā) and one seated in deep absorption (brahma-tatpara), with a vast cosmic backdrop suggesting ‘three worlds’.
FAQs
The highest human ideal is unwavering dedication to Brahman, surpassing mere knowledge and even righteous activity.
No specific tirtha is named; the verse presents a universal teaching embedded in Dharmāraṇya’s dharma discourse.
None explicitly; it elevates brahma-tatparatā (Brahman-centered devotion/absorption) as the supreme orientation.