Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

त्रिदंडादि यतेरुक्तमुपलक्षणमत्र वै । एतल्लक्षणहीनस्तु प्रायश्चित्ती दिने दिने

Transliteration

tridaṃḍādi yateruktamupalakṣaṇamatra vai | etallakṣaṇahīnastu prāyaścittī dine dine

Translation

Here the recognized identifying marks of a renunciant (yati)—such as the triple staff (tridaṇḍa) and the like—have been stated. But one who lacks these defining characteristics must perform prāyaścitta, day after day.

Word by Word

• त्रिदण्डादि: (things) like the triple staff, etc.
• त्रिदण्डादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदण्ड + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिदण्डः आदिः यस्य/यत्र तत्)

• यतेः: of a renunciant
• यतेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• उक्तम्: is stated/has been said
• उक्तम्: Predicate/Pradhana-kriya (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/declared’

• उपलक्षणम्: an indicative mark
• उपलक्षणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (सम्बोधन/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/उपपद (emphatic particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लक्षणहीनः: devoid of the mark(s)
• लक्षणहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (लक्षणेन हीनः)

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• प्रायश्चित्ती: one who must perform expiation
• प्रायश्चित्ती: Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘प्रायश्चित्तं करोति’ इति (agent noun)

• दिने: in a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for distributive sense)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda instructing Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A renunciant in Kāśī stands near a ghat with a tri-daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu; beside him another ascetic lacking marks performs daily expiation, with Viśvanātha’s cityscape and pilgrims in the background.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer vows and recognized disciplines should align with inner commitment; negligence of prescribed marks/duties calls for continual correction through prāyaścitta.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is Kāśī (Varanasi) in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, where dharma is taught as part of Kāśī’s sanctifying tradition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Daily prāyaścitta (expiatory practice) is prescribed for one who lacks the stated defining marks/discipline of a yati.