Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

चरेदात्मसहायश्च निरपेक्षो निराश्रयः । नित्यमध्यात्मनिरतो नीचकेश नखो वशी

Transliteration

caredātmasahāyaśca nirapekṣo nirāśrayaḥ | nityamadhyātmanirato nīcakeśa nakho vaśī

Translation

He should live with the Self as his only companion—free from dependence and without refuge in others—ever devoted to inner spiritual practice, keeping his hair and nails short, and remaining self-controlled.

Word by Word

• चरेत्: should live/walk
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (optative, 3rd person singular)

• आत्मसहायः: self-reliant
• आत्मसहायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + सहाय (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘whose helper is oneself’) (masc nom sg; adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निरपेक्षः: without dependence
• निरपेक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अपेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-निष्पन्न विशेषण (masc nom sg; independent)

• निराश्रयः: without shelter/support
• निराश्रयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc nom sg; without support)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-भावे अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative: ‘always’)

• अध्यात्मनिरतः: devoted to inner self/spirituality
• अध्यात्मनिरतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्यात्म + निरत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम्; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (‘engaged in spirituality’) (masc nom sg)

• नीचकेशः: with hair kept low/short
• नीचकेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच + केश (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘low/humble hair’ i.e., with hair kept low/short) (masc nom sg)

• नखः: (with trimmed) nails
• नखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहारार्थे/लक्षणे (masc nom sg; ‘nails’ as a trait)

• वशी: self-controlled
• वशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc nom sg; self-controlled)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages/pilgrims in frame narrative

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solitary ascetic sits in meditation near the Ganga, minimal belongings, hair and nails neatly trimmed, gaze inward; the bustle of Kāśī fades behind him.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Yati (ascetic)
• Ādhyātma (inner discipline)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True refuge is inward: the ascetic relies on the Self, cultivates inner practice, and maintains disciplined simplicity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the textual setting, portrayed as a sacred environment supporting strict renunciant discipline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A code of conduct: non-dependence, constant adhyātma practice, and maintaining short hair and nails as marks of discipline.