Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

स्वात्मलाभेन संतुष्टान्साधून्भूतसुहृत्तमान् । निरहंकारिणः शांतान्नमस्याम्यूर्ध्वरेतसः

Transliteration

svātmalābhena saṃtuṣṭānsādhūnbhūtasuhṛttamān | nirahaṃkāriṇaḥ śāṃtānnamasyāmyūrdhvaretasaḥ

Translation

Je me prosterne devant ces saints, satisfaits de la réalisation du Soi, les meilleurs amis de tous les êtres—sans ego, paisibles et fermes dans la discipline spirituelle.

Word by Word

• स्वात्मलाभेन: by attainment of one’s own self
• स्वात्मलाभेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-आत्म-लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य आत्मनः लाभः)

• संतुष्टान्: contented
• संतुष्टान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-तुष् (धातु) → संतुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

• साधून्: saints, good men
• साधून्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन

• भूतसुहृत्तमान्: the best friends of beings
• भूतसुहृत्तमान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत-सुहृत्-तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां सुहृत्) + तमप् (superlative)

• निरहंकारिणः: free from ego
• निरहंकारिणः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-अहंकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• शान्तान्: peaceful
• शान्तान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शम् (धातु) → शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

• नमस्यामि: I bow to / I salute
• नमस्यामि: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसः: those of restrained/raised semen (celibates)
• ऊर्ध्वरेतसः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व-रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (ऊर्ध्वं रेतः यस्य)

Speaker

Śrī Rāma (addressing sages/brāhmaṇas)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A royal/heroic figure bows with folded hands to a circle of serene, matted-haired sages seated in a forest-hermitage, their faces calm, suggesting inner Self-attainment.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sādhus
• Brāhmaṇas (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True holiness is marked by self-contentment, compassion for all beings, egolessness, and inner peace—qualities worthy of reverence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within Setu-khaṇḍa’s sacred geography leading toward the Setu/Rāmeśvaram narrative context, though this line itself praises saintly virtues.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No external ritual is prescribed here; it is a dhārmic salutation (namaskāra) to realized and disciplined sages.