Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 169

Devanagari script

समो मानेऽपमाने च समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः । तपस्वी सिद्धिमायाति सुहृच्छत्रुसमाकृतिः

Transliteration

samo māne'pamāne ca samaloṣṭāśmakāṃcanaḥ | tapasvī siddhimāyāti suhṛcchatrusamākṛtiḥ

Translation

Gleich in Ehre und Schmach, gleich gegenüber Erdklumpen, Stein und Gold, und Freund wie Feind in gleicher Weise betrachtend — ein solcher Asket gelangt zur Vollendung.

Word by Word

• समः: equal-minded
• समः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• माने: in honor
• माने: Adhikarana (Domain/आधार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• अपमाने: in dishonor
• अपमाने: Adhikarana (Domain/आधार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः: to whom clod, stone, and gold are the same
• समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + लोष्ट + अश्म + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (लोष्टे अश्मनि काञ्चने च समः = equal regarding clod, stone, and gold)

• तपस्वी: the ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• सिद्धिम्: perfection/accomplishment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• आयाति: attains/comes to
• आयाति: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘आ-’

• सुहृत्-शत्रु-समाकृतिः: having the same disposition toward friend and foe
• सुहृत्-शत्रु-समाकृतिः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुहृत् + शत्रु + सम + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (सुहृत् च शत्रु च) + कर्मधारयार्थः (समाकृतिः = equal attitude/appearance)

Speaker

Guru (continuing instruction)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An ideal ascetic is portrayed through symbolic triads: honor/dishonor, clod/stone/gold, friend/foe—standing serene and unmoved, signifying siddhi.

Characters & Entities

• Tapasvī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual success is grounded in equanimity (samatva) and detachment, not in reactive punishment or pride.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse offers universal ascetic ethics within a tīrtha-mahātmya chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it prescribes inner discipline—equanimity and non-attachment.