Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

सत्यवाञ्छीलवान्वाग्मी सर्वभूतदयापरः । शत्रुमित्रसमो दांतस्तपस्वी विजितेंद्रियः

Transliteration

satyavāñchīlavānvāgmī sarvabhūtadayāparaḥ | śatrumitrasamo dāṃtastapasvī vijiteṃdriyaḥ

Translation

Il était véridique, de noble conduite, éloquent, voué à la compassion envers tous les êtres ; égal envers l’ennemi comme envers l’ami ; maître de lui, austère, et vainqueur des sens.

Word by Word

• सत्यवान्: truthful
• सत्यवान्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• शीलवान्: virtuous, of good conduct
• शीलवान्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

• वाग्मी: eloquent
• वाग्मी: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाग्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing speech/eloquence)

• सर्वभूतदयापरः: devoted to compassion for all beings
• सर्वभूतदयापरः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-भूत-दया-पर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषु भूतेषु दयायां परः) — ‘devoted to compassion toward all beings’

• शत्रुमित्रसमः: equal toward foe and friend
• शत्रुमित्रसमः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु-मित्र-सम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद (शत्रु च मित्रं च) + सम (equal toward)

• दान्तः: self-restrained
• दान्तः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम् (धातु) → दान्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘self-controlled’

• तपस्वी: ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• विजितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• विजितेन्द्रियः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः (विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः) — ‘one whose senses are conquered’

Speaker

Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait of Vatsanābha as an ideal brāhmaṇa-sage: calm face, gentle speech posture, open-handed compassion; symbolic balance scales or paired figures (friend/enemy) to show equanimity; subdued ascetic setting.

Characters & Entities

• Vatsanābha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Liberative tīrtha-traditions are anchored in the dharmic excellence of sages—truth, compassion, equanimity, austerity, and mastery of the senses.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly, Śaṅkhatīrtha is being prepared for glorification through the saintly profile of Vatsanābha in its narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite; it prescribes an inner discipline—dama (self-restraint), tapas, and indriya-jaya (sense-mastery) as dharmic foundations.