Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

सुसूक्ष्माणि विचित्राणि नोज्ज्वलान्यंबराण्यपि । समर्पितानि विप्रेभ्यो दिव्यांबर समृद्धये

Transliteration

susūkṣmāṇi vicitrāṇi nojjvalānyaṃbarāṇyapi | samarpitāni viprebhyo divyāṃbara samṛddhaye

Translation

আমি ব্রাহ্মণদের কাছে অতিসূক্ষ্ম, বিচিত্র নকশাযুক্ত ও দীপ্তিমান বস্ত্রও নিবেদন করিনি—যা দিব্য বস্ত্রসমৃদ্ধি ও শোভা দান করে।

Word by Word

• सुसूक्ष्माणि: very fine/subtle
• सुसूक्ष्माणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• विचित्राणि: variegated, wonderful
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• उज्ज्वलानि: bright, shining
• उज्ज्वलानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• अम्बराणि: garments, cloths
• अम्बराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• समर्पितानि: offered, presented
• समर्पितानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अर्प् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘समर्पित’ = offered (Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• विप्रेभ्यः: to the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (Masculine, Dat., Pl.)

• दिव्य-अम्बर-समृद्धये: for the prosperity of divine garments
• दिव्य-अम्बर-समृद्धये: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + समृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन-द्योतक दत्तिविभक्ति (Feminine, Dat., Sg.; for the purpose of)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A remorseful pilgrim in Kāśī recalls not gifting radiant patterned garments to brāhmaṇas; the Gaṅgā and temple spires appear in the background, emphasizing missed merit and longing for purification.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Refined charity (such as clothing gifts) is a dharmic means to cultivate dignity, splendor, and future well-being.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting; this verse highlights dāna rather than a particular ghat or shrine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vastra-dāna: offering fine, radiant garments to worthy recipients (vipras/brāhmaṇas).