Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 83

Devanagari script

आपस्त्वपि न देयानि नववस्तूनि सर्वथा । अन्वये सति सर्वस्वं दारांश्च शरणागतान्

Transliteration

āpastvapi na deyāni navavastūni sarvathā | anvaye sati sarvasvaṃ dārāṃśca śaraṇāgatān

Translation

Even in distress, these nine things should never be given away. While one’s family line continues, one should not give away everything, nor one’s wife, nor those who have sought refuge.

Word by Word

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘जलानि/आपः’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• देयानि: should be given
• देयानि: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्, देय)
• Form: कृदन्त (देय), विधिलिङ्गार्थे/कर्तव्यता; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘देयानि’ = ‘to be given/should be given’

• नववस्तूनि: new items/things
• नववस्तूनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘नवानि वस्तूनि’

• सर्वथा: in every way/at all
• सर्वथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अन्वये: in (one’s) lineage/descendants
• अन्वये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘वंश/सन्तति’ अर्थे

• सति: when there is/while existing
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: सत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘सति’ = ‘being/when there is’ (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)

• सर्वस्वम्: all one’s property/everything
• सर्वस्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘सर्वं स्वम्’ = ‘सम्पूर्णं धनम्’

• दारान्: wife (lit. wives)
• दारान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘पत्नी’ अर्थे बहुवचनप्रयोगः

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शरणागतान्: those who have sought refuge
• शरणागतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘शरणं गताः’

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer/audience within Kāśī discourse

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dharma-teacher in Kāśī instructs householders: charity is praised but bounded; a supplicant seeks refuge while the householder protects dependents and maintains household order.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is not reckless renunciation: one must protect dependents and uphold responsibility even while practicing generosity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī Khaṇḍa setting remains in the background; the verse is normative guidance rather than site-description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It sets ethical limits on dāna—warning against giving away protected persons or total assets irresponsibly.