Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

भुवि तीर्थान्यनेकानि लोलमायुश्चलं मनः । ततः सप्तपुरीर्यायां सर्वतीर्थानि तत्र यत्

Transliteration

bhuvi tīrthānyanekāni lolamāyuścalaṃ manaḥ | tataḥ saptapurīryāyāṃ sarvatīrthāni tatra yat

Translation

Upon the earth there are many sacred fords; life is unsteady and the mind is fickle. Therefore I should go to the Seven Sacred Cities, for there indeed are gathered all tīrthas.

Word by Word

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• तीर्थानि: holy places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लोलम्: unsteady
• लोलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• आयुः: life
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• चलम्: fickle
• चलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Avyaya (Connector/हेतु-क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (therefore/then)

• सप्तपुरी: in the (group of) seven sacred cities
• सप्तपुरी: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त-पुरि (प्रातिपदिक; components: सप्त + पुरी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound)

• यायाम्: in the going/journey
• यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: या (धातु) + यत्/याय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; गत्यर्थ-प्रातिपदिक (intended journey/going)

• सर्वतीर्थानि: all holy places
• सर्वतीर्थानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; components: सर्व + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (all = every holy place)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Avyaya (Locative adverb/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sapta-purī (with Kāśī implied as goal)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative pilgrim imagines a map-like vision of seven radiant cities across Bhārata, each glowing like a jewel; Kāśī shines brightest, suggesting the gathering of all tīrthas.

Characters & Entities

• Sapta-purī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Because life and mind are unstable, one should prioritize the most potent sacred centers associated with liberation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Sapta Purī (Seven Sacred Cities) are praised as containing the essence of all tīrthas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite; it recommends a pilgrimage strategy—seeking the Sapta Purī for concentrated merit.