Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

स्वात्मलाभेन संतुष्टान्साधून्भूतसुहृत्तमान् । निरहंकारिणः शांतान्नमस्याम्यूर्ध्वरेतसः

Transliteration

svātmalābhena saṃtuṣṭānsādhūnbhūtasuhṛttamān | nirahaṃkāriṇaḥ śāṃtānnamasyāmyūrdhvaretasaḥ

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าขอนอบน้อมแด่เหล่าสาธุชนผู้สันโดษในลาภแห่งอาตมัน เป็นมิตรอันประเสริฐของสรรพสัตว์—ปราศจากอหังการ สงบเย็น และมั่นคงในพรหมจรรย์อันสูงส่ง

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.