Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
Devanagari script
जितेंद्रियास्तपोनिष्ठाः पंचार्थज्ञाननिर्मलाः । भस्मकूटशया दाताः सुशीला ऊर्ध्वरेतसः
Transliteration
jiteṃdriyāstaponiṣṭhāḥ paṃcārthajñānanirmalāḥ | bhasmakūṭaśayā dātāḥ suśīlā ūrdhvaretasaḥ
Translation
তেওঁলোক ইন্দ্ৰিয়জয়ী, তপস্যাত অটল, পঞ্চাৰ্থ-জ্ঞানৰে নিৰ্মল। ভস্মৰ ঢিপত শয়ন কৰে, দানশীল, সুস্বভাব, আৰু ঊৰ্ধ্বৰেতস—সম্পূৰ্ণ ব্ৰহ্মচাৰী।
Word by Word
jitaconquered
jita:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√ji (जि धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
Formकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे समासपूर्वपद; ‘जित’ = conquered
indriyāḥsenses
indriyāḥ:
Karma (Object within compound/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootindriya (इन्द्रिय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासे पूर्वपद-सम्बन्ध
jita-indriyāḥhaving conquered the senses
jita-indriyāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootjita (√ji+क्त) + indriya (इन्द्रिय)
Formबहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारयवत्/उपपद-तत्पुरुष): ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम्/यैः’—अर्थतः ‘sense-controlled’
tapaḥausterity
tapaḥ:
Sambandha (Qualifier within compound/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottapas (तपस्-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद
niṣṭhāḥsteadfast
niṣṭhāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootniṣṭhā (निष्ठा-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘निष्ठ’ भावे ‘निष्ठा’—steadfast
tapo-niṣṭhāḥsteadfast in austerity
tapo-niṣṭhāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottapas (तपस्) + niṣṭha/niṣṭhā (निष्ठ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘तपसि निष्ठा येषाम्’
pañcafive
pañca:
Sambandha (Numerical modifier/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpañca (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
Formसंख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral)
arthacategories/meanings
artha:
Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootartha (अर्थ-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासे मध्यपद
jñānaknowledge
jñāna:
Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootjñāna (ज्ञान-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासे मध्यपद
nirmalāḥpure/spotless
nirmalāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnirmala (निर्मल-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण
pañca-artha-jñāna-nirmalāḥpurified by knowledge of the five categories
pañca-artha-jñāna-nirmalāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpañca + artha + jñāna + nirmala
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘पञ्चार्थज्ञानात् निर्मलाः’ (purified by knowledge of the five categories)
bhasmaashes
bhasma:
Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootbhasman (भस्मन्-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासे पूर्वपद
kūṭaheap/pile
kūṭa:
Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootkūṭa (कूट-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासे मध्यपद
śayāḥlying/sleeping
śayāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśaya (शय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘शय’ = lying/bed; here ‘lying on’ sense
bhasma-kūṭa-śayāḥlying on heaps of ash
bhasma-kūṭa-śayāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhasman + kūṭa + śaya
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘भस्मकूटे शयाः’ (those who lie on heaps of ash)
dātāḥgivers/donors
dātāḥ:
Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Root√dā (दा धातु) + तृच् (तृच्-प्रत्यय)
Formकृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
suśīlāḥwell-conducted/virtuous
suśīlāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu + śīla (सु + शील-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सुशीलाः’ = good-natured/virtuous
ūrdhvaupward
ūrdhva:
Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootūrdhva (ऊर्ध्व-प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रातिपदिक; समासे पूर्वपद
retasaḥsemen/sexual energy
retasaḥ:
Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootretas (रेतस्-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (retasaḥ as nom.pl. in -as stems); समासे उत्तरपद
ūrdhva-retasaḥcelibate (with upward-directed energy)
ūrdhva-retasaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootūrdhva + retas
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘ऊर्ध्वं रेतः येषाम्’ (those whose sexual energy is directed upward; celibate)
Speaker
Skanda (continuing Śiva’s description in context)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A group of ash-smeared ascetics, serene and disciplined, seated or reclining on ash-heaps (bhasma-kūṭa), with calm faces, upright posture, and gestures of giving; subtle aura of inner heat (tapas).
Characters & Entities
P
Pāśupata devoteesA
Ash (bhasma)K
Kāśī (implied context)FAQs
Purity arises from restraint, austerity, right knowledge, and generosity—outer simplicity reflects inner mastery.
Kāśī is implied as a field where such Pāśupata siddhas live and attain purity through Liṅga-centered dharma.
The verse points to ascetic observances (tapas), use of bhasma, and dāna (charity) as integral disciplines.