Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 70

Devanagari script

मृदुमध्योन्नतं रक्तं तलं पाण्योररंध्रकम् । प्रशस्तं शस्तरेखाढ्यमल्परेखं शुभश्रियम्

Transliteration

mṛdumadhyonnataṃ raktaṃ talaṃ pāṇyoraraṃdhrakam | praśastaṃ śastarekhāḍhyamalparekhaṃ śubhaśriyam

Translation

A palm that is soft, slightly raised in the middle, reddish, and without fissures is praised. When it bears fine auspicious lines—yet not too many—it is held to confer good fortune and auspicious prosperity.

Word by Word

• मृदु-मध्य-उन्नतम्: raised (slightly) in the soft middle
• मृदु-मध्य-उन्नतम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्नत (कृदन्त; उत्+नम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रक्तम्: reddish
• रक्तम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (कृदन्त; रञ्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तलम्: palm-surface/sole-like surface (palm)
• तलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाण्योः: of/in the two hands
• पाण्योः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन

• अरंध्रकम्: without holes/crevices
• अरंध्रकम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रन्ध्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासभाव (negation)

• प्रशस्तम्: excellent
• प्रशस्तम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (कृदन्त; प्र+शंस् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शस्त-रेखा-आढ्यम्: rich in auspicious lines
• शस्त-रेखा-आढ्यम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त (कृदन्त; शंस् धातु, क्त) + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अल्प-रेखम्: having few lines
• अल्प-रेखम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + रेख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभ-श्रियम्: bringing auspicious prosperity
• शुभ-श्रियम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-kṣetra (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Generic

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close focus on palms: soft, slightly raised center, reddish tone, unbroken surface, with a few fine auspicious lines—presented as a praised sign of good fortune.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Prosperity is portrayed as aligned with balanced, unbroken completeness—symbolizing steadiness and sattva in one’s life path.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī Khaṇḍa context is Kāśī, but the verse itself is about palm characteristics.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.