Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

कार्यं मनोरथावाप्त्यै सर्वैरेतद्व्रतं शुभम् । पत्नीं मनोरमां कुल्यां मनोवृत्त्यनुसारिणीम्

Transliteration

kāryaṃ manorathāvāptyai sarvairetadvrataṃ śubham | patnīṃ manoramāṃ kulyāṃ manovṛttyanusāriṇīm

Translation

This auspicious vow should be performed by all for the attainment of their desired aims. (Thereby one gains) a charming and well-born wife, who follows one’s disposition and intentions.

Word by Word

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'to be done'

• मनोरथावाप्त्यै: for attaining desired aims
• मनोरथावाप्त्यै: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोरथ + अवाप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मनोरथस्य अवाप्तिः)

• सर्वैः: by all (people)
• सर्वैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पत्नीम्: wife
• पत्नीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मनोरमाम्: charming
• मनोरमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुल्याम्: of good family/noble
• कुल्याम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कुलसम्बद्धा)

• मनोवृत्त्यनुसारिणीम्: following one’s disposition
• मनोवृत्त्यनुसारिणीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनः/मनो + वृत्ति + अनुसारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मनोवृत्तिम् अनुसरति इति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context) to Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (vrata fruit statement)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee completes a vow in Kāśī; symbolic vision of a harmonious marriage: a well-born, charming wife standing beside the devotee, both facing a Śiva shrine, suggesting dharmic companionship.

Characters & Entities

• Manoratha-tṛtīyā (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rightly performed dharma aligns inner intention with outer action, yielding both spiritual merit and orderly worldly blessings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching is transmitted within Kāśī-khaṇḍa; this verse is chiefly a vow’s fruit-statement rather than a tīrtha description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A general injunction: all may undertake this auspicious vow to attain their aims.