Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

स्मृत्याचारविहीनस्तु गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक् । नटपाखंडिभंडैश्च बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः

Transliteration

smṛtyācāravihīnastu gītavādyavinodabhāk | naṭapākhaṃḍibhaṃḍaiśca baddhapremaparaṃparaḥ

Translation

Der von der in der Smṛti gelehrten Lebensführung entblößt war, fand Vergnügen an Gesang und Instrumentenspiel und wurde durch eine Kette von Anhänglichkeiten an Schauspieler, Betrüger und Possenreißer gebunden.

Word by Word

• स्मृत्याचारविहीनः: devoid of smṛti-based conduct
• स्मृत्याचारविहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्मृत्याचाराभ्यां विहीनः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक्: one who partakes in entertainment of songs and instruments
• गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनोद (प्रातिपदिक) + भाज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गीतवाद्यविनोदस्य भाक्); कृदन्त (भाज् धातोः क्विप्/क्विन्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नटपाखंडिभंडैः: with actors, hypocrites, and buffoons
• नटपाखंडिभंडैः: Sahakari (Instrument/Association/सहकारि-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट (प्रातिपदिक) + पाखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (नटाः पाखण्डिनः भण्डाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः: having a chain of attachment (fixed affection)
• बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + परंपरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बद्धं प्रेम यस्य परंपरा/परम्परया); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A man sits amid musicians and actors with masks; nearby, ascetics and brāhmaṇas recite quietly. The composition shows a literal ‘chain’ motif linking him to buffoons and impostors, symbolizing attachment.

Characters & Entities

• Smṛti
• Naṭa
• Pākhaṇḍin

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When Smṛti-guided conduct is abandoned, the mind runs toward entertainment and corrupt company, forging bondage through attachment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is named; the verse supports the moral arc that later highlights the need for sacred refuge (as in Kāśī narratives).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it critiques the abandonment of Smṛti-based ācāra rather than prescribing a specific rite.