Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

अलौल्या लोभरहिता दानधर्मपरायणाः । आस्तिकाश्चैव धर्मज्ञाः स्वामिभक्तिरताश्च ये

Transliteration

alaulyā lobharahitā dānadharmaparāyaṇāḥ | āstikāścaiva dharmajñāḥ svāmibhaktiratāśca ye

Translation

Those who are not fickle, free from greed, devoted to dāna and dharma—who are āstika, discerning in dharma, and steadfast in devotion to their lord—such people are praised here.

Word by Word

• अलौल्याः: free from fickleness/greediness (not restless)
• अलौल्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलौल्यम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (adjectival use)

• लोभ-रहिताः: devoid of greed
• लोभ-रहिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (lohasya rahitāḥ = devoid of greed)

• दान-धर्म-परायणाः: devoted to charity and righteousness
• दान-धर्म-परायणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (dāna-dharme parāyaṇāḥ = devoted to charity and dharma)

• आस्तिकाः: believers (in Veda/afterlife)
• आस्तिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• धर्मज्ञाः: knowers of dharma
• धर्मज्ञाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (dharmaṃ jānanti = knowing dharma)

• स्वामि-भक्ति-रताः: engaged in devotion to their lord/master
• स्वामि-भक्ति-रताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √रम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (svāmini bhaktau ratāḥ = devoted to devotion to the master)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Sūta (contextual narration within the Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa dialogue)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the assembled ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm forest-āśrama discourse: sages seated on kuśa mats, a narrator extolling virtues—non-greed, charity, faith—while householders offer alms and listen with folded hands.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A dharmic life is marked by freedom from greed, commitment to charity, faith in dharma, and loyal devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse is ethical instruction within Dharmāraṇya; no single tīrtha is explicitly named in the shloka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It emphasizes dāna (charitable giving) as a core dharmic practice, without specifying a particular rite.