Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 79

Devanagari script

हठान्निरुद्धप्राणोयं रोमकूपेषु निःसरेत् । देहंविदारयत्येष कुष्ठादिजनयत्यपि

Transliteration

haṭhānniruddhaprāṇoyaṃ romakūpeṣu niḥsaret | dehaṃvidārayatyeṣa kuṣṭhādijanayatyapi

Translation

If the prāṇa is forcibly restrained, it may burst forth through the pores of the skin. It can tear the body and even give rise to diseases such as leprosy and the like.

Word by Word

• हठात्: forcibly
• हठात्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रकारे (abl. sg., ‘by force/forcibly’)

• निरुद्ध-प्राणः: the restrained breath
• निरुद्ध-प्राणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि + रुध् (धातु) → निरुद्ध (कृदन्त) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-सम्भवः, प्रायः तत्पुरुषः (‘restrained prāṇa’) (masc. nom. sg.)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun: this)

• रोम-कूपेषु: in the hair-pores
• रोम-कूपेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोम (प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (loc. pl., ‘in hair-pores’)

• निःसरेत्: should exit
• निःसरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + सृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should flow out/exit)

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• विदारयति: tears apart
• विदारयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + दृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (tears/rends)

• एषः: this (prāṇa)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun: this)

• कुष्ठ-आदि: leprosy and the like
• कुष्ठ-आदि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘leprosy etc.’) (neut. acc. sg.)

• जनयति: produces
• जनयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (produces)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-शब्दः (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cautionary tableau: a strained yogin with tense posture; prāṇa depicted as turbulent wind bursting outward; a compassionate teacher intervenes, restoring calm.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual discipline must be intelligent and gradual; forceful breath-restraint harms the body and obstructs dharmic progress.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Kāśī), but the verse itself is a universal caution rather than a site-glorification.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prohibition/caution: do not restrain prāṇa violently; practice in a controlled, progressive manner.