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

Einst herrschte im Lande Vidarbha ein König namens Satyaratha: in jeder Pflicht des Dharma standhaft, tapfer, von edler Sitte und unerschütterlich der Wahrheit ergeben.

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.