Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

भुग्नेन विनतेनापि सशिरेणापि दुःखिता । ऋज्वी कृकाटिका श्रेष्ठा समांसा च समुन्नता

Transliteration

bhugnena vinatenāpi saśireṇāpi duḥkhitā | ṛjvī kṛkāṭikā śreṣṭhā samāṃsā ca samunnatā

Translation

If the nape at the neck-junction is bent, drooping, or bearing a lump, she is said to be unhappy. The best nape is straight, evenly fleshed, and gently raised.

Word by Word

• भुग्नेन: with a bent (one)
• भुग्नेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुग्न (कृदन्त; √भञ्ज् ‘to break/bend’ → भुग्न ‘bent’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन (agreeing with implied ‘पृष्ठेन/कृकाटिकया’ contextually)

• विनतेन: with a bowed (one)
• विनतेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनत (कृदन्त; वि+√नम् ‘to bend’ → विनत ‘bowed’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd); एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; even/also)

• स-शिरेण: with the head (included)
• स-शिरेण: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + शिरस्/शिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd); एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘शिरसा सह’ (with the head)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• दुःखिता: afflicted, unhappy
• दुःखिता: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (कृदन्त; दुःख + √इ ‘to go/experience’ → दुःखित ‘afflicted’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• ऋज्वी: straight
• ऋज्वी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋज्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• कृकाटिका: nape of the neck
• कृकाटिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृकाटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठा: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठा: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• स-मांसा: fleshy, with flesh
• स-मांसा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘मांसेन सह/मांसयुक्ता’ (fleshy)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• समुन्नता: elevated, raised
• समुन्नता: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुन्नत (कृदन्त; सम्+उद्+√नम् ‘to rise’ → समुन्नत ‘raised’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśīkṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm diagnostic illustration: the teacher indicates the neck-junction (kṛkāṭikā) with three symbolic variants—bent, drooping, lumpy—contrasted with the ideal straight, gently raised form; Kāśī’s ghāṭa steps appear in the distance.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It conveys a traditional view that harmony in form reflects harmony in fate, pointing toward balanced living and virtue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s overall setting is Kāśī; this verse does not name a particular tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.