Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

धननामा वणिक्कश्चित्तत्रैव वसते सदा । धनाढ्यः स तु धर्मात्मा सदा धर्मपरायणः

Transliteration

dhananāmā vaṇikkaścittatraiva vasate sadā | dhanāḍhyaḥ sa tu dharmātmā sadā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Dort lebte stets ein Kaufmann namens Dhana. Obgleich wohlhabend, war er von rechtschaffener Natur und immer dem Dharma zugetan.

Word by Word

• धननामा: named ‘Dhana’
• धननामा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (धनं नाम यस्य सः) विशेषणम् (वणिक्)

• वणिक्: a merchant
• वणिक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वणिज्/वणिक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कश्चित्: a certain (one)
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् + चित् (सर्वनाम + निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic)

• वसते: dwells, lives
• वसते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

• धनाढ्यः: wealthy
• धनाढ्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धनेन आढ्यः/धनस्य आढ्यः) विशेषणम् (सः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: and, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य सः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• धर्मपरायणः: devoted to dharma
• धर्मपरायणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + परायण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मे परायणः)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator within Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya (deductively: Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa narrating to sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājñī (queen)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait-like introduction of Dhana the merchant: a prosperous yet modestly composed figure in a sacred city, suggesting inner righteousness over outward opulence.

Characters & Entities

• Dhana (merchant)
• Prabhāsa
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Wealth is not condemned; it is sanctified when joined to steadfast dharma and right conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra, where the narrative sets the exemplary dharmic life of a resident devotee.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is prescribed here; the verse establishes the character of a dharma-oriented householder in the sacred region.