Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

परित्यज्यात्र जरसं न वो भ्राजसि सांप्रतम् । अस्ति चेदवकाशस्ते ततो ब्रूहि तपोधन

Transliteration

parityajyātra jarasaṃ na vo bhrājasi sāṃpratam | asti cedavakāśaste tato brūhi tapodhana

Translation

„Nachdem du hier das Alter abgelegt hast, strahlst du nun. Wenn du Muße hast, so sprich, o Schatz der Askese.“

Word by Word

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु) → परित्यज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having abandoned”

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: “here”)

• जरसम्: old age
• जरसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; “old age/decay”

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• वः: your
• वः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; respectful/plural “of you/your” (often used for singular honorific)

• भ्राजसि: you shine
• भ्राजसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; “you shine”

• साम्प्रतम्: now
• साम्प्रतम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: “now/at present”)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; “there is”

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle: “if”)

• अवकाशः: opportunity
• अवकाशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “leisure/opportunity”

• ते: for you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; “to you/for you”

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Consequence marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (adverb: “then/thereupon/from that”)

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; “tell/say”

• तपोधन: O ascetic (rich in austerity)
• तपोधन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (तपः-धनः यस्य), पुंलिङ्गे, संबोधन, एकवचन; “O one whose wealth is austerity”

Speaker

Narapati (King)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages / audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The questioner gestures toward the ascetic’s now-radiant body, indicating the vanished old age, and politely requests an explanation; the ascetic remains composed, embodying tapas and serenity.

Characters & Entities

• Tapodhana (Ascetic)
• Narapati (King)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sincere seeker requests teaching respectfully, recognizing tapas (austerity) as spiritual wealth.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is implied as the place where decay can be ‘cast off’ through sacred power and grace.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the verse foregrounds respectful inquiry (praśna) as a dharmic approach to wisdom.