Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 50
असंतोषः परं दुःखं संतोषः परमं सुखम् । सुखार्थी पुरुषस्तस्मात्संतुष्टः सततं भवेत्
asaṃtoṣaḥ paraṃ duḥkhaṃ saṃtoṣaḥ paramaṃ sukham | sukhārthī puruṣastasmātsaṃtuṣṭaḥ satataṃ bhavet
بے قناعتی سب سے بڑا غم ہے، اور قناعت سب سے بڑی خوشی۔ اس لیے جو شخص خوشی چاہے، وہ ہمیشہ قناعت میں رہے۔
Gautama (contextual continuation)
Listener: brāhmaṇas (implied)
Scene: A didactic tableau: a balanced scale—one side labeled ‘asantoṣa’ weighed down by dark stones (duḥkha), the other labeled ‘santoṣa’ uplifted by a lotus (sukha). A teacher-sage points to the scale while pilgrims watch.
FAQs
Happiness is rooted in santoṣa; without it, even gains become suffering.
No site is specified; the verse gives a universal dharma principle often taught alongside tīrtha glorification.
No external ritual is prescribed; the practice advised is constant cultivation of contentment.