Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

सार्वभौमो महीपाल एकोऽन्यश्च निरीहकः । सुभगस्तु तयोर्नित्यं भूयाद्भूयो निरीहकः

Transliteration

sārvabhaumo mahīpāla eko'nyaśca nirīhakaḥ | subhagastu tayornityaṃ bhūyādbhūyo nirīhakaḥ

Translation

Einer mag ein Weltenherrscher sein, ein Beschützer der Erde; ein anderer mag begehrlos sein, ohne Streben. Doch von den beiden ist der wahrhaft Glückselige—immer wieder—der, der frei ist von Gier und Verlangen.

Word by Word

• सार्वभौमः: universal (sovereign)
• सार्वभौमः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्व + भौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वः भौमः/भूमेः स्वामी); विशेषण (महीपालः)

• महीपालः: king (protector of the earth)
• महीपालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः मह्याः पालः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्यः: another
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• निरीहकः: one without desire/effortless
• निरीहकः: Karta (Subject/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरीहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञा

• सुभगः: fortunate
• सुभगः: Karta (Subject/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थक (but/indeed)

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे अव्ययवत्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

• भूयात्: may be/become
• भूयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भूयः: more/again
• भूयः: Adverbial (Degree)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्/भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक/अधिक्यवाचक (again/more)

• निरीहकः: desireless
• निरीहकः: Karta (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरीहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (सुभगः)

Speaker

Atri (contextual continuation of the teaching)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis / pilgrims as implied audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: on one side a crowned universal monarch with attendants; on the other a serene, simply clad ascetic. The radiance of ‘fortune’ subtly surrounds the desireless one.

Characters & Entities

• king (mahīpāla)
• universal monarch (sārvabhauma)
• nirīhaka (desireless ascetic)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly sovereignty is inferior to inner freedom; the greatest auspiciousness is desirelessness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not a named site in this verse; it supports the Māhātmya theme that pilgrimage sanctity is measured by detachment.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; it offers a value-judgment elevating desirelessness as the highest blessing.