Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 50
असंतोषः परं दुःखं संतोषः परमं सुखम् । सुखार्थी पुरुषस्तस्मात्संतुष्टः सततं भवेत्
asaṃtoṣaḥ paraṃ duḥkhaṃ saṃtoṣaḥ paramaṃ sukham | sukhārthī puruṣastasmātsaṃtuṣṭaḥ satataṃ bhavet
Le mécontentement est la peine suprême ; le contentement est la joie suprême. Ainsi, celui qui cherche le bonheur doit demeurer toujours content.
Gautama (contextual continuation)
Listener: brāhmaṇas (implied)
Scene: A didactic tableau: a balanced scale—one side labeled ‘asantoṣa’ weighed down by dark stones (duḥkha), the other labeled ‘santoṣa’ uplifted by a lotus (sukha). A teacher-sage points to the scale while pilgrims watch.
FAQs
Happiness is rooted in santoṣa; without it, even gains become suffering.
No site is specified; the verse gives a universal dharma principle often taught alongside tīrtha glorification.
No external ritual is prescribed; the practice advised is constant cultivation of contentment.