Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

नितांतं कमलाकांते शांतचित्तं विधाय यः । संशीलयेत्क्षणं नूनं कमला तत्र निश्चला

Transliteration

nitāṃtaṃ kamalākāṃte śāṃtacittaṃ vidhāya yaḥ | saṃśīlayetkṣaṇaṃ nūnaṃ kamalā tatra niścalā

Translation

Wer, den Geist zutiefst beruhigt, ihn auf Kamalākānta (den Geliebten Lakṣmīs) richtet und auch nur einen Augenblick in solcher Betrachtung verweilt—wahrlich, Kamalā (Lakṣmī) bleibt dort standhaft.

Word by Word

• नितान्तम्: completely
• नितान्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नितान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial accusative) ‘exceedingly/entirely’

• कमला-कान्ते: O beloved of Kamalā (Viṣṇu)
• कमला-कान्ते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमला (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कमलायाः कान्तः)

• शान्त-चित्तम्: a calm mind
• शान्त-चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त, क्त; √शम्) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शान्तं चित्तम्)

• विधाय: having made
• विधाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having done/made’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• संशीलयेत्: should practice/cultivate
• संशीलयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + शीलय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कालावधिवाचक (accusative of duration)

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक (particle of certainty)

• कमला: Lakṣmī
• कमला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• निश्चला: steady/immovable
• निश्चला: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कमला इति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (inner dhyāna-tīrtha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tranquil meditator visualizes Viṣṇu as Kamalākānta; Lakṣmī appears steady at His chest/side, symbolizing unwavering auspiciousness settling where the mind is calm.

Characters & Entities

• Kamalākānta
• Kamalā (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even brief, sincere contemplation with a peaceful mind draws auspiciousness—symbolized by Lakṣmī’s steady presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse itself is devotional rather than geographical; its placement is within Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s larger sacred-topography narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A meditative practice: establish a śānta-citta and contemplate Kamalākānta, even momentarily.