Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पंचत्वमेव हि वरं लोके लाघववर्ज्जितम् । नामरत्वमपि श्रेयो लाघवेन समन्वितम्

Transliteration

paṃcatvameva hi varaṃ loke lāghavavarjjitam | nāmaratvamapi śreyo lāghavena samanvitam

Translation

الموتُ نفسه في هذا العالم خيرٌ حقًّا إن كان منزَّهًا عن الدناءة؛ بل إن نوعًا من «خلودٍ بلا اسم» أَولى من حياةٍ تقترن بالوضاعة.

Word by Word

• पंचत्वम्: the state of becoming five elements (death)
• पंचत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंचत्व (प्रातिपदिक; पञ्च + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (त्व)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (causal/emphatic particle)

• वरम्: better/preferable
• वरम्: Karta-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• लाघववर्जितम्: devoid of lightness (i.e., without frivolity)
• लाघववर्जितम्: Karta-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाघव + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘वर्जित’ = excluded; तत्पुरुषः (लाघवस्य वर्जितम्)

• नामरत्यम्: delight in name/fame
• नामरत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामरत्य (प्रातिपदिक; नाम + रति + य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नि रतिः/नामसु रतिः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• श्रेयः: better/more beneficial
• श्रेयः: Karta-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनार्थ-विशेषण

• लाघवेन: with lightness/ease
• लाघवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• समन्वितम्: endowed/associated (with)
• समन्वितम्: Karta-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; उपसर्ग-सम्

Speaker

Skanda (contextual attribution continuing from Skanda uvāca)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative pilgrim in Kāśī stands near a ghat at dawn, rejecting a tempting but dishonorable offer; behind him the river flows steadily, symbolizing dignity beyond life and death.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma values dignity and steadfastness; survival at the cost of baseness is spiritually inferior to an honorable end.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is specified; the verse is a general dharmic maxim within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a value-statement about lāghava (moral lowness) and dharmic honor.