Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

कुंतीश्वरादुत्तरतस्तीर्थं वै कापिलो ह्रदः । तत्र वै स्नानमात्रेण वृषभध्वजपूजनात्

Transliteration

kuṃtīśvarāduttaratastīrthaṃ vai kāpilo hradaḥ | tatra vai snānamātreṇa vṛṣabhadhvajapūjanāt

Translation

To the north of Kuntīśvara lies the sacred ford called Kāpila Lake. There, by bathing alone and by worship of the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva), merit is obtained.

Word by Word

• कुन्ती-ईश्वरात्: from Kuntīśvara
• कुन्ती-ईश्वरात्: Apadāna (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्ती (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तरतः: to the north
• उत्तरतः: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्तरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (directional adverb)

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• कापिलः: Kapila-associated / named Kāpila
• कापिलः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कापिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with ह्रदः)

• ह्रदः: lake
• ह्रदः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात

• स्नान-मात्रेण: by mere bathing
• स्नान-मात्रेण: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणार्थ (by mere bathing)

• वृषभ-ध्वज-पूजनात्: from worship of the Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• वृषभ-ध्वज-पूजनात्: Apadāna (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (from/through worship of the Bull-bannered one)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāpila Hrada

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tranquil pond north of a shrine: pilgrims stepping into still water at dawn; a small Śiva shrine with Nandin emblem; offerings on the bank; mist over water.

Characters & Entities

• Kuntīśvara
• Kāpila-hrada (Kāpila lake/tīrtha)
• Śiva (Vṛṣabhadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In Kāśī, even simple acts—bathing and sincere worship—are celebrated as powerful bearers of merit due to the sanctity of place.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāpila Hrada, a tīrtha located north of Kuntīśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Snāna (ritual bathing) at Kāpila Hrada and pūjā of Śiva (Vṛṣabhadhvaja).