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

Thật ở đâu có bậc quân vương như thế—mang thân xác mà vẫn vững vàng trong niềm tin nơi tự tâm (sự sáng tỏ nội tại)? Người ấy đã nắm được cả tinh túy của quyền bính; hãy lắng nghe cho kỹ điều này.

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.