Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

जलौकयोपमीयंते प्रमदा मंदबुद्धिभिः । मृगीदृशां जलौकानां विचारान्महदतंरम्

Transliteration

jalaukayopamīyaṃte pramadā maṃdabuddhibhiḥ | mṛgīdṛśāṃ jalaukānāṃ vicārānmahadataṃram

Translation

يشبّه ضعيفو العقول النساءَ بالعلَق؛ غير أنّ التأمّل يُظهر فرقًا عظيمًا بين ذوات العيون كعيون الظباء وبين العَلَق.

Word by Word

• जलौकया: by/with a leech
• जलौकया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलौका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उपमीयन्ते: are compared
• उपमीयन्ते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√मा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'are compared'

• प्रमदाः: women
• प्रमदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• मन्दबुद्धिभिः: by dull-witted (people)
• मन्दबुद्धिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (मन्दा बुद्धिः येषाम्)

• मृगीदृशाम्: of doe-eyed (women)
• मृगीदृशाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगी + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृग्याः इव दृशः)

• जलौकानाम्: of leeches
• जलौकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलौका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• विचारात्: from consideration/analysis
• विचारात्: Apadana (Source/Reason/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्तरम्: difference
• अन्तरम्: Karma (Object/Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśī Khaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A small assembly of householders and pilgrims; a wise elder gestures to restrain harsh talk, while a thought-bubble-like contrast shows a leech vs. a compassionate woman, emphasizing the ‘great difference’ discovered by reflection.

Characters & Entities

• Pramadā (women)
• Jalauka (leech)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Avoid shallow, cynical comparisons; apply discernment (vicāra) before judging human relationships.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a nīti-style exhortation toward thoughtful reflection.