Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

बाणेषु गुणविश्लेषो बंधोक्तिः पुस्तके दृढा । स्नेहत्यागः सदैवास्ति यत्र पाशुपते जने

Transliteration

bāṇeṣu guṇaviśleṣo baṃdhoktiḥ pustake dṛḍhā | snehatyāgaḥ sadaivāsti yatra pāśupate jane

Translation

In that land, even arrows are tested for their qualities; agreements are firmly set down in books; and among the Pāśupata devotees there is ever a steadfast renunciation of attachment.

Word by Word

• बाणेषु: in/among arrows
• बाणेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गुण-विश्लेषः: separation of the string (lit. of the guṇa)
• गुण-विश्लेषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्लेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• बन्ध-उक्तिः: talk of bondage
• बन्ध-उक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुस्तके: in a book
• पुस्तके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृढा: firm, strong
• दृढा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying)

• स्नेह-त्यागः: abandonment of affection
• स्नेह-त्यागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक) + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• पाशुपते: in/among the Pāśupata (sect)
• पाशुपते: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying)

• जने: in people, among persons
• जने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dharmic cityscape of Kāśī: ascetics in Pāśupata marks walking near ghāṭs; a scribe records agreements on palm-leaf; a craftsman inspects arrows for balance and quality—symbolizing discernment and integrity.

Characters & Entities

• Pāśupata
• Paśupati (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A truly dharmic land unites worldly order (discernment and firm agreements) with spiritual renunciation, especially among Śiva’s devotees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as a sacred realm where Pāśupata-Śaiva values naturally flourish.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; the verse highlights ethical discipline and detachment as lived dharma.