Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

कूपवापीतडागानां कर्तारो निर्मलैर्धनैः । इह लोके महीयंते वारुणे वरुणप्रभाः

Transliteration

kūpavāpītaḍāgānāṃ kartāro nirmalairdhanaiḥ | iha loke mahīyaṃte vāruṇe varuṇaprabhāḥ

Translation

Wer mit reinem, rechtschaffenem Vermögen Brunnen, Teiche und Wasserbecken anlegt, wird schon in dieser Welt geehrt und leuchtet in Varuṇas Reich im Glanz Varuṇas.

Word by Word

• कूप: well
• कूप: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• वापी: pond, reservoir
• वापी: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• तडागानाम्: of tanks/lakes
• तडागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• कूपवापीतडागानाम्: of wells, ponds, and tanks
• कूपवापीतडागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + वापी (प्रातिपदिक) + तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective dvandva), षष्ठी बहुवचन; ‘of wells, ponds, and tanks’

• कर्तारः: makers, builders
• कर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• निर्मलैः: pure, clean
• निर्मलैः: Karana (करण) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• धनैः: with wealth
• धनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Desha/Adhikarana (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: here)

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

• महीयन्ते: are honored
• महीयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मही (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः—‘are honored’

• वारुणे: in Varuṇa’s (realm)
• वारुणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (लोके)

• वरुणप्रभाः: those radiant like Varuṇa
• वरुणप्रभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वरुणस्य प्रभा/प्रभावः’ (those having Varuṇa-like splendor)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: didactic praise within Kāśīkhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Varuṇa-loka (phala-sthāna)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Artisans and donors construct a well and a large tank; clear water reflects the sky; in the celestial register, Varuṇa’s realm glows as beneficiaries shine with watery splendor.

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Public welfare through water infrastructure is a high dharma; purity of means (nirmala dhana) is essential for lasting spiritual merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Varuṇa’s realm (Vāruṇa-loka) is highlighted as a meritorious destination; the teaching is embedded in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A dharmic prescription of dāna in action: constructing wells, ponds, and tanks using honest wealth for the benefit of all.