Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

धर्मं सहायिनं लब्ध्वा संतरेद्दुस्तरं तमः । संबंधानाचारेन्नित्यमुत्तमैरुत्तमैः सुधीः

Transliteration

dharmaṃ sahāyinaṃ labdhvā saṃtareddustaraṃ tamaḥ | saṃbaṃdhānācārennityamuttamairuttamaiḥ sudhīḥ

Translation

ധർമ്മത്തെ സഹായി ആയി ലഭിച്ചാൽ ദുഷ്കരമായ അന്ധകാരം കടക്കാം. വിവേകി എപ്പോഴും ഉത്തമരോടൊപ്പം സത്സംഗവും സദാചാരവും ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• dharmam: dharma
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sahāyinam: as a helper
• sahāyinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'dharmam' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• saṃtaret: should cross over
• saṃtaret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + tṛ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dustaram: hard to cross
• dustaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥ + stara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दुः+स्तर), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'tamaḥ' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tamaḥ: darkness (ignorance)
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• saṃbaṃdhān: associations, relations
• saṃbaṃdhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃbaṃdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ācaren: should practice/maintain
• ācaren: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + car (चर् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) कालवाचक

• uttamaiḥ: with the best (people)
• uttamaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• uttamaiḥ: with the very best
• uttamaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ)

• sudhīḥ: the wise person
• sudhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सु+धी), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice; traditionally framed within Sūta’s discourse in Purāṇic setting)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wise person boards a symbolic boat named 'Dharma' to cross a dark river of Tamas; on the far bank stand noble elders inviting with lamps; the unwise linger in shadowy company.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma and noble company (satsaṅga) enable one to cross the darkness of ignorance and moral decline.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is specified; the verse emphasizes the ‘inner tīrtha’ of pure association and conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No fixed ritual is listed; the practice prescribed is continual sadācāra and association with the virtuous.