Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 96

Devanagari script

यावदात्मनि वै क्षेमं तावत्क्षेमं जगत्त्रये । सोपि क्षेमः सुमतिना यशसा सह वांछ्यते

Transliteration

yāvadātmani vai kṣemaṃ tāvatkṣemaṃ jagattraye | sopi kṣemaḥ sumatinā yaśasā saha vāṃchyate

Translation

So viel Heil und Wohlergehen im eigenen Selbst ist, so viel Heil ist auch in den drei Welten; und eben dieses Wohl, vereint mit guter Einsicht, wird samt ehrenvollem Ruhm erstrebt.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as much as / so long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (Correlative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Form: अव्यय; यावत्-तावत् सम्बन्धसूचक (correlative: as much as/so long as)

• आत्मनि: in oneself
• आत्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्षेमम्: welfare, well-being
• क्षेमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• तावत्: that much
• तावत्: Sambandha (Correlative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Form: अव्यय; यावत्-तावत् सम्बन्धसूचक (correlative: that much)

• क्षेमम्: welfare
• क्षेमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• जगत्-त्रये: in the three worlds
• जगत्-त्रये: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जगतां त्रयम् = the three worlds)

• सः: that (welfare) / it
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also)

• क्षेमः: welfare
• क्षेमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• सुमतिना: by good sense / wise mind
• सुमतिना: Karaṇa (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भाव (by good understanding/wise intention)

• यशसा: with fame
• यशसा: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (postposition: with)

• वाञ्छ्यते: is desired
• वाञ्छ्यते: Kriyā (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: is desired)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative tableau: the devotee reflects that inner well-being radiates outward to the three worlds; the shrine remains in the background as a symbol of centeredness.

Characters & Entities

• jagat-traya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Puranic dharma links outer prosperity to inner steadiness: true kṣema begins in the self and radiates outward.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within the Kāśī-māhātmya narrative, where inner and outer auspiciousness are framed through Kāśī-centered devotion.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; it offers a reflective teaching on kṣema (welfare) and right-minded aspiration.