Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

युक्तमुक्तं पुराविद्भिश्चिन्तामूर्तिः सुदारुणा । न भेषजैर्लंघनैर्वा न चान्यैरुपशाम्यति

Transliteration

yuktamuktaṃ purāvidbhiścintāmūrtiḥ sudāruṇā | na bheṣajairlaṃghanairvā na cānyairupaśāmyati

Translation

Wahrlich, die Weisen der Vorzeit sprachen recht: Sorge ist eine höchst schreckliche, leibhaftige Macht; sie wird weder durch Arzneien noch durch Fasten noch durch andere Mittel besänftigt.

Word by Word

• युक्तम्: proper, fitting
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् धातु-निष्पन्न क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of उक्तम्)

• उक्तम्: (it is) said
• उक्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच् धातु-निष्पन्न क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (said statement)

• पुराविद्भिः: by the knowers of old (ancients)
• पुराविद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• चिन्तामूर्तिः: the embodiment of worry
• चिन्तामूर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुदारुणा: very dreadful
• सुदारुणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of चिन्तामूर्तिः)

• न: not
• न: Discourse particle (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• भेषजैः: by medicines
• भेषजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेषज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• लङ्घनैः: by fasting/abstinence
• लङ्घनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्घन (प्रातिपदिक; √लङ्घ् धातु-निष्पन्न ल्युट्/अन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• न: not
• न: Discourse particle (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Discourse particle (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अन्यैः: by other (means)
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• उपशाम्यति: is pacified/ceases
• उपशाम्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + शम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Vindhya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ancient sages (‘purāvidaḥ’) are evoked as authorities; anxiety is personified as a dark, looming figure, while medicines and fasting appear ineffective—scattered herbs, an empty bowl—until a Śiva-symbol brings calm light.

Characters & Entities

• Vindhya
• Purāvid (ancient sages)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Anxiety is an inner affliction; external remedies alone cannot pacify it without inner transformation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is a general teaching framed within the story.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Fasting and medicines are mentioned only to say they do not quell anxiety by themselves.