Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 88

Devanagari script

यथा सत्कथया नित्यं संयाति परमां गतिम् । तथान्यैः सद्व्रतैर्जंतोर्नभवेन्मतिरुत्तमा

Transliteration

yathā satkathayā nityaṃ saṃyāti paramāṃ gatim | tathānyaiḥ sadvratairjaṃtornabhavenmatiruttamā

Translation

正如恒常聆听圣善法语能趋至至上归宿，同样，仅凭其他善誓，众生之心智并不能以同等方式真正升华。

Word by Word

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/दृष्टान्तवाचक (indeclinable; comparative/correlative ‘as’)

• सत्कथया: by a good discourse (holy story)
• सत्कथया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Instrumental; Singular)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb)

• संयाति: attains, goes to
• संयाति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√yā (या धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present; 3rd person; Singular; Parasmaipada)

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Accusative; Singular)

• गतिम्: state, goal, destination
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Accusative; Singular)

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूप/तुल्यवाचक (indeclinable; ‘so, likewise’)

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Masc/Neut; Instrumental; Plural)

• सद्व्रतैः: by good vows/observances
• सद्व्रतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Neuter; Instrumental; Plural)

• जन्तोः: of a creature/person
• जन्तोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine; Genitive; Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (indeclinable negation)

• भवेत्: would be, may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आज्ञा); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Optative; 3rd person; Singular; Parasmaipada)

• मतिः: understanding, inclination
• मतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Nominative; Singular)

• उत्तमा: excellent, highest
• उत्तमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Nominative; Singular)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa (unnamed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene assembly of sages listening to a reciter expound sacred discourse; the listener’s mind shown as a lotus opening, while ritual implements (vrata items) rest secondary in the background.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Among dharmic disciplines, sustained engagement with sacred teaching uniquely elevates understanding and leads toward the highest state.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is mentioned; the verse compares spiritual practices rather than praising a named location.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sad-vratas (good vows) are referenced, but the verse highlights sat-kathā as especially effective for producing exalted understanding.