Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 79

Devanagari script

अदंभितात्वमात्सर्यमप्रार्थितधनागमः । अलोभित्वमनालस्यमपारुष्यमदीनता

Transliteration

adaṃbhitātvamātsaryamaprārthitadhanāgamaḥ | alobhitvamanālasyamapāruṣyamadīnatā

Translation

Freedom from pretence, absence of envy, receiving wealth only when unasked, non-greed, diligence, gentleness, and unbroken self-respect—these are the virtues to be cultivated by one who dwells in the sacred field of Kāśī.

Word by Word

• अदंभितात्वम्: non-pretentiousness, absence of hypocrisy
• अदंभितात्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-दंभिता-त्व (प्रातिपदिक; दंभिता < √दंभ् (धातु) + ता; त्व = तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (त्व)

• अमात्सर्यम्: non-envy, freedom from jealousy
• अमात्सर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-मात्सर्य (प्रातिपदिक; मात्सर्य < मत्सर + य (तद्धित))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अ-)

• अप्रार्थितधनागमः: arrival of unasked-for wealth
• अप्रार्थितधनागमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रार्थित-धन-आगम (प्रातिपदिक; प्रार्थित < √अर्थ् (धातु) + क्त; धन (प्रातिपदिक); आगम < आ-√गम् (धातु) + घञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वपद; समासार्थः: अप्रार्थितस्य धनस्य आगमः

• अलोभित्वम्: non-greediness
• अलोभित्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-लोभि-त्व (प्रातिपदिक; लोभि < लोभ + इन् (तद्धित); त्व = तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अ-)

• अनालस्यम्: non-laziness, diligence
• अनालस्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-आलस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अ-)

• अपारुष्यम्: non-harshness, gentleness
• अपारुष्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-पारुष्य (प्रातिपदिक; पारुष्य < परुष + य (तद्धित))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अ-)

• अदीनता: absence of dejection, not being low-spirited
• अदीनता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-दीनता (प्रातिपदिक; दीन + ता (तद्धित))
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (अ-)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative norm)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: typically a sage/audience in Purāṇic frame (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A quiet Kāśī lane near a ghat: a resident ascetic/householder embodies simple virtues—calm face, modest dress, gentle speech—while the city’s sacred aura (temples, bells, Gaṅgā) frames ethical living as worship.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Kṣetra (holy field)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī-dwelling is upheld as a discipline of character: humility, non-envy, non-greed, and gentle conduct safeguard spiritual merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as the kṣetra where ethical refinement and devotion are especially meritorious.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is prescribed here; the verse emphasizes inner virtues as the resident’s daily observance.