Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

आत्मप्रत्ययवान्देही क्वेश्वरश्चेदृशोऽस्ति हि । ऐश्वर्यस्यापि सारं स जग्राहैतन्निशामय

Transliteration

ātmapratyayavāndehī kveśvaraścedṛśo'sti hi | aiśvaryasyāpi sāraṃ sa jagrāhaitanniśāmaya

Translation

ผู้ปกครองเช่นนี้—แม้มีร่างกายแต่มั่นคงด้วยความเชื่อมั่นในตน (ความกระจ่างภายใน)—จะหาได้ที่ไหนเล่า? เขาได้ถือเอาแก่นแท้แห่งราชอำนาจแล้ว; จงฟังให้ดีเถิด.

Word by Word

• ātma-pratyaya-vān: self-confident
• ātma-pratyaya-vān: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + pratyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनि प्रत्ययः यस्य सः)

• dehī: the embodied one/person
• dehī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kva: where?
• kva: Interrogative (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb: 'where?'), अव्यय

• īśvaraḥ: a lord/master
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction), अव्यय

• īdṛśaḥ: such as this
• īdṛśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īdṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asti: exists/is
• asti: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः—अस् (to be)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात, अव्यय

• aiśvaryasya: of sovereignty/wealth
• aiśvaryasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि (particle: 'also/even'), अव्यय

• sāram: essence
• sāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• jagrāha: took/accepted
• jagrāha: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः—ग्रह् (to seize/take)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• niśāmaya: observe/listen
• niśāmaya: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; धातुः—नि√शम् (to observe/listen)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative mode)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A ruler sits not on a high throne but on a simple seat beside sages; a luminous steady flame at his heart symbolizes ātma-pratyaya; regalia is present but secondary, indicating essence over display.

Characters & Entities

• Aiśvarya (sovereignty)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest sovereignty is self-mastery; inner conviction and restraint form the essence of true rulership.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is mentioned; the verse continues an ethical portrait within the chapter’s discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; it exhorts attentive listening and learning of the dharmic essence of leadership.