Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

भवादृशा महात्मानः सदा लोकहिते रताः । नात्मनो हितमिच्छंति कल्पवृक्षसधर्मिणः

Transliteration

bhavādṛśā mahātmānaḥ sadā lokahite ratāḥ | nātmano hitamicchaṃti kalpavṛkṣasadharmiṇaḥ

Translation

Bậc đại hồn như ngài hằng chuyên tâm vì lợi ích của thế gian. Tựa cây Kalpavṛkṣa ban nguyện, ngài chẳng cầu lợi riêng cho mình mà thôi.

Word by Word

• भवात्: from you / than you
• भवात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक ‘भवत्’ (honorific pronoun)

• दृशाः: like (you)
• दृशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘दृश्’ = like/seeing; ‘भवात्-दृशाः’ इति समास-भङ्गे विशेषण

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• लोकहिते: in the welfare of the world
• लोकहिते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: लोकस्य हितम् = लोकहितम्

• रताः: engaged / devoted
• रताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (कृदन्त; √रम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘रमते’ इत्यस्य ‘रत’ = engaged

• न: not
• न: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• हितम्: benefit
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• कल्पवृक्षसधर्मिणः: having the nature of the wish-fulfilling tree
• कल्पवृक्षसधर्मिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पवृक्ष + सधर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: कल्पवृक्षस्य सधर्मिणः = having the same nature as the wish-fulfilling tree

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual dialogue within Sūta’s narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (typical Sūta frame; not explicit in this single verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene assembly where a revered sage is praised as a kalpavṛkṣa—standing like a wish-fulfilling tree shading and feeding seekers; disciples and pilgrims receive boons without the sage seeking anything.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True greatness is measured by selfless concern for the welfare of all beings, not by personal gain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as a dharmic maxim within the Bhasma-māhātmya context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed here; the verse praises the virtue of altruistic conduct.