Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 76

Devanagari script

पैशुन्यं परदाराश्च द्रोहः क्रोधानृताप्रियम् । द्वेषो दंभश्च माया च स्वर्गमार्गार्गलानि हि

Transliteration

paiśunyaṃ paradārāśca drohaḥ krodhānṛtāpriyam | dveṣo daṃbhaśca māyā ca svargamārgārgalāni hi

Translation

Slander, desire for another’s spouse, treachery, anger, falsehood, harsh speech, hatred, hypocrisy, and deceit—these indeed are the bolts that bar the path to heaven.

Word by Word

• पैशुन्यम्: slander; backbiting
• पैशुन्यम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैशुन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• परदाराः: others’ wives (illicit relations)
• परदाराः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine nominative plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• द्रोहः: treachery; malice
• द्रोहः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• क्रोध: anger
• क्रोध: Upapada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• अनृत: falsehood
• अनृत: Upapada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant speech/act
• अप्रियम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• द्वेषः: hatred
• द्वेषः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• दंभः: hypocrisy; deceit
• दंभः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• माया: illusion; trickery
• माया: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine nominative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• स्वर्गमार्गार्गलानि: bolts/barriers to the path to heaven
• स्वर्गमार्गार्गलानि: Karta (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गमार्ग + अर्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter nom/acc plural)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: ‘indeed/for’)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical gate to Svarga with heavy bolts labeled as the nine vices; a pilgrim/householder removes them one by one through truth, gentleness, and integrity; Kāśī’s skyline and a distant temple spire appear behind.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Certain vices function like locked bars on spiritual progress; removing them opens the way to higher worlds and merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting is Kāśī Khaṇḍa; the verse is ethical instruction rather than a site-glorification passage.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prohibition: renounce slander, adultery, treachery, anger, lying, harshness, hatred, hypocrisy, and deceit.