Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

वाणीप्रमाणी क्रियते गोविंदगुणवर्णने । जोषं समासता तेन महासारं तपस्यता

Transliteration

vāṇīpramāṇī kriyate goviṃdaguṇavarṇane | joṣaṃ samāsatā tena mahāsāraṃ tapasyatā

Translation

His speech found its true measure only in praising Govinda’s virtues; through that silent absorption, his austerity became supremely substantial and essential.

Word by Word

• वाणी-प्रमाणी: speech that is authoritative/valid
• वाणी-प्रमाणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वाणी एव प्रमाणी)

• क्रियते: is done / becomes
• क्रियते: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गोविन्द-गुण-वर्णने: in the description of Govinda’s qualities
• गोविन्द-गुण-वर्णने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला (गोविन्दस्य गुणानां वर्णने)

• जोषम्: delight, satisfaction
• जोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समासता: by one who is absorbed/settled
• समासता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय (Present participle), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; ‘by/with one who is seated/absorbed’

• तेन: by him/therefore
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महा-सारम्: of great essence
• महा-सारम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् सारः)

• तपस्यता: by penance
• तपस्यता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by austerity’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee recites Govinda’s qualities before a small shrine; then sits in deep silence, eyes half-closed, as the words dissolve into stillness.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Speech becomes sacred when used for divine praise; inward silence and absorption mature austerity into its highest essence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is Kāśī in the Skanda Purāṇa; this verse highlights devotional practice rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A devotional discipline is implied: praising Govinda’s qualities and maintaining contemplative quietude (japa-like absorption).