Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वां गतिमवाप्नोति वीक्षणादूर्ध्वरेतसः । ऊर्ध्वरेतसि ये भक्ता न हि तेषामधोगतिः

Transliteration

ūrdhvāṃ gatimavāpnoti vīkṣaṇādūrdhvaretasaḥ | ūrdhvaretasi ye bhaktā na hi teṣāmadhogatiḥ

Translation

By merely beholding Ūrdhvaretā, one attains the upward path. Those who are devotees of Ūrdhvaretā never fall into a downward destiny.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वाम्: upward
• ऊर्ध्वाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• गतिम्: movement; course; state
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वीक्षणात्: from seeing; by the sight
• वीक्षणात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; वि-ईक्ष् धातोः भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसः: of the ūrdhvaretas (ascetic)
• ऊर्ध्वरेतसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व-रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसि: in/with regard to the ūrdhvaretas
• ऊर्ध्वरेतसि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व-रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यः/ये (relative pronoun)

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; भज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अधोगतिः: downward course/fall
• अधोगतिः: Karta (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधो-गति (प्रातिपदिक; अधस् + गति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुषप्रायः (अधः गमनम्)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ūrdhvaretā (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee beholds Ūrdhvaretā Śiva; a vertical axis motif (rising light, upward path) symbolizes ūrdhva-gati; the devotee’s posture shows surrender and uplift.

Characters & Entities

• Ūrdhvaretā (Śiva)
• Kāśī (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Darśana and devotion to Śiva in Kāśī elevate the devotee’s destiny, guarding against spiritual decline.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ūrdhvaretā (a specific Śiva manifestation/shrine) within the Kāśī sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vīkṣaṇa (darśana) and bhakti are emphasized; no additional rite is required in this verse.