Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 13
Devanagari script
सद्धि यस्तं सदाचारं धर्ममूलं विदुर्बुधाः । लक्षणैः परिहीनोऽपि सम्यगाचारतत्परः
Transliteration
saddhi yastaṃ sadācāraṃ dharmamūlaṃ vidurbudhāḥ | lakṣaṇaiḥ parihīno'pi samyagācāratatparaḥ
Translation
賢者は、善き行いこそダルマの根本であると知る。外的なしるしや区別を欠いていても、正しい行いに専心する者はまことに確立している。
Word by Word
सत्good/right
सत्:
Predicate/Emphasis (विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootसत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगे ‘सत्यम्/उचितम्’
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात—कारण/अवधारण
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)
तम्that
तम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
सदाचारम्good conduct
सदाचारम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसत् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
धर्ममूलम्the root of dharma
धर्ममूलम्:
Karma-apposition (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्म + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘धर्मस्य मूलम्’ (root of dharma)
विदुःknow
विदुः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√विद् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन
बुधाःthe wise
बुधाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
लक्षणैःby marks/qualities
लक्षणैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन
परिहीनःdevoid (of)
परिहीनः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि + √हा (धातु) + क्त (हीन)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वर्जितः/हीनः’
अपिeven
अपि:
Concessive particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात—अपि (even/also)
सम्यगाचारतत्परःdevoted to proper conduct
सम्यगाचारतत्परः:
Predicate (विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्यक् (अव्यय) + आचार + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘सम्यगाचार-तत्परः’ = right conduct devoted
Speaker
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Two figures contrasted: one richly marked with external symbols but behaving arrogantly; another plainly dressed yet serving others and studying—radiant with inner light labeled ‘sadācāra’.
Characters & Entities
B
Budha (the wise)FAQs
Dharma is measured by conduct, not by external labels, signs, or status.
No specific sacred site is mentioned; the verse presents a general dharma principle.
No ritual; it prescribes devotion to samyak-ācāra (proper conduct).