Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

एतत्षड्वर्गहरणं रिपुनिग्रहणं परम् । अध्यात्ममूलमेतद्धि परमं सौख्यकारणम्

Transliteration

etatṣaḍvargaharaṇaṃ ripunigrahaṇaṃ param | adhyātmamūlametaddhi paramaṃ saukhyakāraṇam

Translation

ഈ നിയമം ‘ഷഡ്വർഗം’ നീക്കുകയും അന്തർശത്രുക്കളെ പരമമായി നിയന്ത്രിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. അധ്യാത്മത്തിൽ മൂലമുള്ള ഇതുതന്നെ നിസ്സന്ദേഹമായി പരമസുഖത്തിന്റെ കാരണമാണ്।

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• षड्वर्गहरणम्: removal of the sixfold group (six inner enemies)
• षड्वर्गहरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (षड्वर्गस्य हरणम्)

• रिपुनिग्रहणम्: subjugation of enemies
• रिपुनिग्रहणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक) + निग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रिपूणां निग्रहणम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of preceding nouns)

• अध्यात्ममूलम्: rooted in spirituality
• अध्यात्ममूलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्यात्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अध्यात्मस्य मूलम्)

• एतत्: this (practice)
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक-सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of कारणम्)

• सौख्यकारणम्: cause of happiness
• सौख्यकारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सौख्यस्य कारणम्)

Speaker

Brahmā (continuing)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nārada

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical tableau: a disciplined ascetic/pilgrim stands firm while six shadowy figures (desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride, envy) dissolve into light; behind, a subtle Viṣṇu radiance indicates adhyātma-rooted victory.

Characters & Entities

• Ṣaḍvarga
• Ripu (inner enemies)
• Adhyātma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Self-discipline conquers the inner enemies and leads to lasting happiness grounded in adhyātma (inner spirituality).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; the teaching supplies the inner qualification for tīrtha-benefits—purity through restraint.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Undertake niyama to subdue the ṣaḍvarga/inner enemies—an inward discipline supporting all vows and pilgrim rites.