Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

भवेत्कूलंकपा यद्वदल्पवर्षेणकन्नदी । खलर्धिरल्पवर्षेण तद्वत्स्यात्स्वकुलंकपा

Transliteration

bhavetkūlaṃkapā yadvadalpavarṣeṇakannadī | khalardhiralpavarṣeṇa tadvatsyātsvakulaṃkapā

Translation

Wie ein kleiner Bach durch wenig Regen zu einer Ufer brechenden Flut wird, so wird auch der Wohlstand des Bösen—aus geringem Anlass gewonnen—zur Schande, die die Ehre seines Geschlechts zerreißt.

Word by Word

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कूलं-कपा: a bank-cutter/eroder (one that cuts the bank)
• कूलं-कपा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक) + कपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कूलस्य कपा/कूलकपा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: 'just as')

• अल्प-वर्षेण: by little rain
• अल्प-वर्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('little rain'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कन्-नदी: a small river
• कन्-नदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन् (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषणपूर्वपद: 'small/insignificant river'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• खल-अर्धिः: the prosperity/abundance of a wicked man
• खल-अर्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: 'of the wicked'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अल्प-वर्षेण: by little rain
• अल्प-वर्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Upameya-correlative (उपमेय-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानानुसारी-अव्यय (correlative: 'so/likewise')

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्व-कूलं-कपा: a cutter of his own bank/lineage (one who harms his own family)
• स्व-कूलं-कपा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कूल (प्रातिपदिक) + कपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य कूलस्य कपा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Vyāsa (narrative voice; speaker not explicitly marked in this verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A small stream suddenly swelling into a destructive flood that breaks its banks and washes away a family banner/insignia—symbolizing honor—while sages point to the moral.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unethical prosperity quickly turns destructive—eroding restraint, reputation, and the stability of one’s own family.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None directly; it is a general ethical teaching within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.