Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

एवमादिभिरुद्दंडैः क्रियाकांडैरनेकशः । पंचरात्रमुषित्वा तु कृत्वा तीर्थान्यनेकशः

Transliteration

evamādibhiruddaṃḍaiḥ kriyākāṃḍairanekaśaḥ | paṃcarātramuṣitvā tu kṛtvā tīrthānyanekaśaḥ

Translation

Thus, by many such rigorous ritual observances and by repeatedly performing the prescribed acts, they stayed for five nights and visited many tīrthas—sacred fords and holy places.

Word by Word

• evam-ādibhiḥ: by such and other (means)
• evam-ādibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: evam (अव्यय) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (एवम्-प्रकारादयः)

• uddaṃḍaiḥ: by intense/rigorous
• uddaṃḍaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uddaṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (तीव्र/उग्र)

• kriyā-kāṃḍaiḥ: by ritual sections/acts
• kriyā-kāṃḍaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्रियायाः काण्डाः = कर्मकाण्डाः)

• anekaśaḥ: many times; in many ways
• anekaśaḥ: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (पुनःपुनः/बहुधा)

• paṃca-rātram: for five nights
• paṃca-rātram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃcan (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च रात्राः यस्य/पञ्चरात्रम् = पञ्चरात्र-पर्यन्तम्)

• uṣitvā: having stayed
• uṣitvā: Adverbial (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु) (उष्-आदेश), क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (उषित्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Adverbial (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु), क्त्वा-प्रत्यय
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• tīrthāni: pilgrimage-rites/holy places (acts at tīrthas)
• tīrthāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• anekaśaḥ: many times
• anekaśaḥ: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (बहुधा)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī tīrthas (collective)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages (typical)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of pilgrims with staffs and waterpots completes rigorous rites and then moves through Kāśī’s lanes and ghāṭs, marking a five-night stay while visiting multiple tīrthas.

Characters & Entities

• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Merit in Kāśī is intensified through disciplined observance and sustained pilgrimage—devotion expressed over time, not merely in a moment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s network of tīrthas is implied—multiple sacred spots within the Kāśī-maṇḍala visited as part of the vow.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A structured stay of five nights (pañcarātra) together with repeated performance of ritual duties and tīrtha-visitation.