Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

धनं धान्यं प्रियान्पुत्रांस्तथा देहं नृपोत्तम । गच्छते वायुभूतस्तु शुभाशुभसमन्वितः

Transliteration

dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ priyānputrāṃstathā dehaṃ nṛpottama | gacchate vāyubhūtastu śubhāśubhasamanvitaḥ

Translation

Richesses, grains, fils bien-aimés—et même le corps, ô meilleur des rois—tout cela demeure en arrière ; l’être s’en va comme devenu vent, n’emportant que ses actes bons et mauvais.

Word by Word

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धान्यम्: grain, provisions
• धान्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रियान्: dear, beloved
• प्रियान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• देहम्: body
• देहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृपोत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—उत्तमः नृपः (कर्मधारय)

• गच्छते: goes, departs
• गच्छते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वायुभूतः: having become like wind
• वायुभूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वायुः इव/वायुरूपेण भूतः (तत्पुरुष)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Contrast/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• शुभाशुभसमन्वितः: endowed with good and bad (results)
• शुभाशुभसमन्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + अशुभ + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—शुभं च अशुभं च (द्वन्द्व) + समन्वितः (युक्तः)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely a dialogue frame addressing a king; speaker not explicit in snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Yodhanīpura (context)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpoत्तम (best of kings)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king is addressed by a sage: in the foreground, symbols of wealth and family; in the background, a departing subtle figure carried by wind, with two shadowy attendants labeled ‘śubha’ and ‘aśubha’ (good and evil deeds).

Characters & Entities

• nṛpottama (best of kings)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

At death, possessions and relations do not accompany the soul; only karma follows—urging dharmic living and tīrtha-based merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The wider Revā Khaṇḍa setting; the moral supports the preceding praise of Yodhanīpura where merit becomes imperishable.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a dharma teaching emphasizing karmic accountability.