Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 95

Devanagari script

लक्षणानि परीक्ष्यादौ ततः कन्यां समुद्वहेत् । सुलक्षणा सदाचारा पत्युरायुर्विवर्धयेत्

Transliteration

lakṣaṇāni parīkṣyādau tataḥ kanyāṃ samudvahet | sulakṣaṇā sadācārā patyurāyurvivardhayet

Translation

After first examining the auspicious marks, one should then marry the maiden. A woman of good marks and virtuous conduct is said to increase her husband’s longevity.

Word by Word

• लक्षणानि: marks, characteristics
• लक्षणानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• परीक्ष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाले (having examined)

• आदौ: at first
• आदौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial locative): ‘in the beginning’

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Krama (Sequence/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• कन्याम्: the maiden
• कन्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सम्: properly (prefix)
• सम्: Upasarga (Preverb/उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• उद्वहेत्: should marry (take as wife)
• उद्वहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्तः (सम्+उद्)

• सुलक्षणा: well-marked, of good signs
• सुलक्षणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of implied ‘कन्या/स्त्री’); समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु-लक्षणा = good-marked)

• सदाचारा: of good conduct
• सदाचारा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्/सदा + आचार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सद्-आचारः यस्याः)

• पत्युः: of the husband
• पत्युः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विवर्धयेत्: should increase
• विवर्धयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्तः (वि)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa instruction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Agastya (Ghaṭodbhava)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A ceremonial, auspicious household scene: elders and a sage examine signs and virtues symbolically (manuscript, lamp, sacred thread), while Skanda’s instruction hovers as the guiding voice; Kāśī’s sacred skyline faintly present.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma in marriage is strengthened by discernment and virtue; character and auspiciousness are linked to household welfare.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī provides the sacred narrative frame, but the verse itself teaches gṛhastha norms rather than praising a particular tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A procedural prescription: examine lakṣaṇas (signs/qualities) before performing marriage.