Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

शास्त्रज्ञो नयवाक्छूरो धैर्यवानमितद्युतिः । अप्रधृष्यः सुगंभीरः संग्रामेष्वनिवर्त्तितः

Transliteration

śāstrajño nayavākchūro dhairyavānamitadyutiḥ | apradhṛṣyaḥ sugaṃbhīraḥ saṃgrāmeṣvanivarttitaḥ

Translation

তিনি শাস্ত্রজ্ঞ, নীতি ও বাক্যে বীর, ধৈর্যশীল ও অপরিমেয় তেজস্বী ছিলেন; অপ্রতিরোধ্য, গভীর-গম্ভীর, এবং যুদ্ধে কখনও পশ্চাদপসরণ করতেন না।

Word by Word

• शास्त्रज्ञः: knower of the scriptures
• शास्त्रज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘शास्त्रं जानाति’ (knower of scriptures); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नयवाक्छूरः: valiant in statecraft and speech
• नयवाक्छूरः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहुपद): ‘नये वाचि च शूरः’ (heroic in policy and speech); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धैर्यवान्: courageous / steadfast
• धैर्यवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (तद्धित)
• Form: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अमितद्युतिः: of boundless radiance
• अमितद्युतिः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘अमिता द्युतिः यस्य’ (of immeasurable splendor); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अप्रधृष्यः: unassailable
• अप्रधृष्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्र + धृष् (धातु) → अप्रधृष्य (कृदन्त, यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/अनीयर्-समर्थ अर्थ), नकारान्त-निषेध (negated); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘अजय्यः/अपराजेयः’ (invincible)

• सुगंभीरः: very deep/serious
• सुगंभीरः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + गंभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संग्रामेषु: in battles
• संग्रामेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)

• अनिवर्त्तितः: never retreating
• अनिवर्त्तितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + नि + वृत् (धातु) → निवर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नकारान्त-निषेध; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘अनिवृत्तः/अप्रतिनिवृत्तः’ (not turned back)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in Brāhma Khaṇḍa framing)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Assembly of listeners (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Heroic characterization tableau: the king shown with scripture in one hand and weapon in the other, symbolizing śāstra and śastra; his posture is immovable, eyes calm, suggesting depth and gravity.

Characters & Entities

• Dāśārha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ideal rulership integrates śāstra-guided wisdom with courage, steadiness, and unwavering protection of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this verse; it continues the characterization within the Mathurā-based narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it is descriptive, illustrating virtues aligned with rājadharma.