Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

योगात्मानं परं शांतं कमडलुधरं विभुम् । अक्षसूत्रधरं शांतं तथा कल्पां तवासिनम्

Transliteration

yogātmānaṃ paraṃ śāṃtaṃ kamaḍaludharaṃ vibhum | akṣasūtradharaṃ śāṃtaṃ tathā kalpāṃ tavāsinam

Translation

They saw him as the very soul of yoga—supremely tranquil and mighty—bearing the kamaṇḍalu and holding the akṣasūtra (rosary); serene, abiding in that state through the ages.

Word by Word

• योगात्मानम्: one whose nature is yoga
• योगात्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (योगः आत्मा यस्य/योगात्मा)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शम्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कमण्डलुधरम्: bearing a water-pot
• कमण्डलुधरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कमण्डलुं धरति)

• विभुम्: the mighty one/lord
• विभुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अक्षसूत्रधरम्: holding a rosary
• अक्षसूत्रधरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षसूत्र (प्रातिपदिक; अक्ष+सूत्र) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अक्षसूत्रं धरति)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शम्)
• Form: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-विशेषणम्

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (also/likewise)

• कल्पाम्: Kalpā (name/kalpa-related power)
• कल्पाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; पाठान्तर/सन्दिग्धपाठः—अर्थे ‘कल्पाम्’ = ‘कल्पवत्/कल्पां (शक्तिं/विद्यां)’ इति सम्भाव्यते

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• आसिनम्: the seated one
• आसिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आसिन्’ = ‘आसीन/उपविष्ट’ इत्यर्थे (one seated)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (yoga-āśrama sanctity)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene yogin-sage (Mārkaṇḍeya) sits unmoving with kamandalu and rosary; time is suggested by faint cyclical motifs (yuga wheel, kalpa waves) around him, yet his face remains tranquil.

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Kamaṇḍalu
• Akṣasūtra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Yoga is portrayed as steady, age-transcending inner peace supported by disciplined practice (japa, tapas, and contemplation).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha narrative is being framed through the authority of Mārkaṇḍeya before describing Dharmāraṇya and Sarasvatī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa is implied by the akṣasūtra (rosary), but no explicit injunction is stated.