Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

पय ऐकशफं हेयं तथा क्रामेलकाविकम् । रात्रौ न दधि भोक्तव्यं दिवा न नवनीतकम्

Transliteration

paya aikaśaphaṃ heyaṃ tathā krāmelakāvikam | rātrau na dadhi bhoktavyaṃ divā na navanītakam

Translation

Milk from single-hoofed animals is to be avoided, and likewise that of the camel. Curd should not be eaten at night, and fresh butter should not be eaten in the daytime.

Word by Word

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• ऐकशफम्: single-hoofed animal (e.g., horse)
• ऐकशफम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + शफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एकः शफः यस्य)

• हेयम्: to be avoided
• हेयम्: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेय (कृदन्त; हा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावे क्तव्य-प्रत्ययः = ‘to be avoided’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb) = ‘likewise’

• क्रामेलकाविकम्: camel and sheep/goat (products/meat)
• क्रामेलकाविकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रामेलक (प्रातिपदिक) + आविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (क्रामेलकं च आविकं च)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण कालवाचक-अव्यय (locative used adverbially)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• भोक्तव्यम्: should be eaten
• भोक्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्तव्य-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः = ‘should be eaten’

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (काल-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (by day)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• नवनीतकम्: fresh butter
• नवनीतकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim/adhikārin

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim’s day in Kāśī: morning snāna and simple meal; at night, the pilgrim refuses curd offered at a rest house; a clock-like sun/moon motif indicates time-based restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma includes regulation of diet by source and timing, cultivating restraint suitable for sacred living.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is implicit; such niyamas are framed as supportive of the sanctity and spiritual aim of life in Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Time-based dietary rules: avoid curd at night and butter by day; also avoid certain kinds of milk.