Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

सत्कथायां सदाचारे सद्व्रते च सदागमे । धर्मादिसंग्रहे नित्यं तृष्णां कुरु महामते

Transliteration

satkathāyāṃ sadācāre sadvrate ca sadāgame | dharmādisaṃgrahe nityaṃ tṛṣṇāṃ kuru mahāmate

Translation

O Weiser, pflege stets die Sehnsucht nach edler Rede, gutem Wandel, gerechten Gelübden und heiligen Lehren; und sammle und bewahre unablässig Dharma und die ihm verbundenen Tugenden.

Word by Word

• सत्कथायाम्: in good discourse
• सत्कथायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सत् कथा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदाचारे: in good conduct
• सदाचारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सत् आचारः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सद्व्रते: in good vows
• सद्व्रते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सत् व्रतम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सदागमे: in good tradition/scripture
• सदागमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सत् आगमः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मादिसंग्रहे: in the collection of dharma etc.
• धर्मादिसंग्रहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आदि + संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: धर्मादीनां संग्रहः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यम्: constantly
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: always/constantly)

• तृष्णाम्: craving; desire
• तृष्णाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरु: do; make
• कुरु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महती मतिः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Unspecified elder/teacher figure in Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (didactic instruction)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: mahāmati (wise addressee)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A seeker gathers palm-leaf manuscripts and listens to a reciter; nearby are symbols of vrata—kalasha, lamp, rosary—showing desire redirected into dharma practice.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Redirect desire toward sacred learning, virtuous living, and disciplined vows—this is dharma-oriented aspiration.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified; the verse promotes a general dhārmic lifestyle.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sad-vrata (righteous vows) is recommended, along with study/embrace of sacred teachings (āgama).