Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविद्या प्रबोधार्थं काश्यां पूज्या दिनेदिने । ब्राह्मणैर्यतिभिर्नित्यं निजतत्त्वावबोधिभिः

Transliteration

brahmavidyā prabodhārthaṃ kāśyāṃ pūjyā dinedine | brāhmaṇairyatibhirnityaṃ nijatattvāvabodhibhiḥ

Translation

For the awakening of Brahman-knowledge, Brahmavidyā in Kāśī should be worshipped day after day—always by brāhmaṇas and renunciants devoted to realizing their own true nature.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मविद्या: knowledge of Brahman / Brahma-vidyā
• ब्रह्मविद्या: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुषसमासः (ब्रह्मणः विद्या)

• प्रबोधार्थम्: for awakening/enlightenment
• प्रबोधार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोध-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative) प्रयोजनार्थे; तत्पुरुषसमासः (प्रबोधस्य अर्थः)

• काश्याम्: in Kāśī
• काश्याम्: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• पूज्या: to be worshipped
• पूज्या: Predicate adjective
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive)

• दिने: in a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी; पुनरुक्ति (दिने-दिने = प्रतिदिनम्)

• ब्राह्मणैः: by Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Kartr/Agent (worshippers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental)

• यतिभिः: by ascetics
• यतिभिः: Kartr/Agent (worshippers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया

• नित्यम्: always/regularly
• नित्यम्: Adverbial modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावेन)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time/frequency)

• निजतत्त्वावबोधिभिः: by those who know/realize their own true nature
• निजतत्त्वावबोधिभिः: Kartr/Agent (worshippers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज-तत्त्व-अवबोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीया; तत्पुरुषसमासः (निजं तत्त्वं अवबोधयति/अवबुध्यते इति)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Brahmavidyā in Kāśī (daily worship locus)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A quiet Kāśī courtyard at dawn: brāhmaṇas and yatis seated with scriptures, a shrine/personification of Brahmavidyā receiving lamp and flowers; the mood is inward, luminous, and contemplative.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmavidyā
• Kāśī
• Brāhmaṇa
• Yati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady daily worship aimed at inner awakening is upheld as the Kāśī path—moving from ritual devotion to realization of one’s true nature.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Brahmavidyā in Kāśī—presented as a worshipful locus for cultivating Brahma-jñāna.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dine-dine pūjā: daily worship of Brahmavidyā, especially by brāhmaṇas and renunciants.