Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

राज्यं च लभते मर्त्यः कृत्वोद्वाहं तु मानुषाः । जायातो धर्मकामार्थाः प्राप्यंते नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

rājyaṃ ca labhate martyaḥ kṛtvodvāhaṃ tu mānuṣāḥ | jāyāto dharmakāmārthāḥ prāpyaṃte nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

凡人由婚姻而入居家之道，便得王权与安稳；并且依于妻室，得成就法（dharma）、欲（kāma）与利（artha）——对此毫无疑惑。

Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom; sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मर्त्यः: a mortal man
• मर्त्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Sambandha (Prior action/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• उद्वाहम्: marriage
• उद्वाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• मानुषाः: people; humans
• मानुषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• जायातः: from (one's) wife
• जायातः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन (जायातः = जायायाः/जायातः 'from the wife'; वैदिक/पुराण-प्रयोगे पञ्चमी)

• धर्मकामार्थाः: dharma, desire, and wealth
• धर्मकामार्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (धर्मः च कामः च अर्थः च)

• प्राप्यन्ते: are obtained
• प्राप्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here; in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'here/in this matter')

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Vyāsa (continuing instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira; implied from surrounding dialogue)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: mānava / humans (generalized addressee)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A marriage rite scene: bride and groom near sacred fire, elders blessing; afterwards the couple offers hospitality/charity, symbolizing dharma-kāma-artha balance and social stability.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Householder life, grounded in marriage, is affirmed as a legitimate dharmic path supporting righteousness, prosperity, and harmonious enjoyment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

While not naming a tirtha in this verse, it occurs within the Dharmāraṇya section that frames dharma and its fruits in a sanctified locale.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Udvāha (marriage) is indicated as the rite that establishes gṛhastha-dharma and its associated aims.