Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

मर्यादया भवानब्धिर्महत्त्वे हिमवानसि । भार्गवो राजनीत्यासि राज्येन मनुना समः

Transliteration

maryādayā bhavānabdhirmahattve himavānasi | bhārgavo rājanītyāsi rājyena manunā samaḥ

Translation

By keeping the proper bounds, you are like the ocean; in greatness, like Himālaya. In political wisdom you are like Bhārgava, and in sovereignty you are equal to Manu.

Word by Word

• मर्यादया: by propriety/limits
• मर्यादया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by boundary/limit, by propriety)

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; honorific pronoun; Nominative singular (you)

• अब्दिः: ocean
• अब्दिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्दि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (ocean)

• महत्त्वे: in greatness
• महत्त्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular (in greatness)

• हिमवान्: Himavān (Himalaya)
• हिमवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Himavān, the Himalaya)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 2nd sg (you are)

• भार्गवः: Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Bhārgava)

• राजनीत्या: by political wisdom/statecraft
• राजनीत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजनीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by statecraft)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 2nd sg (you are)

• राज्येन: by kingship, by sovereignty
• राज्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by kingship/realm)

• मनुना: with Manu
• मनुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with Manu / by Manu as standard)

• समः: equal
• समः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine (equal)

Speaker

Skanda (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣi audience (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A composed allegory: the praised ruler stands between an ocean (maryādā/shoreline) and the Himālaya (mahatva), holding a manuscript of nīti; Bhārgava (Śukra/Paraśurāma-Bhārgava archetype) and Manu appear as guiding figures.

Characters & Entities

• Ocean (Abdhi)
• Himavān (Himalaya)
• Bhārgava
• Manu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Maryādā (right boundaries) and rājanīti (ethical governance) are pillars of dharmic sovereignty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa milieu where dharma is praised as Kāśī’s living ethos.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.