Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

गंगावरणयोर्विष्णुः संभेदे स्वच्छमानसः । प्रक्षाल्य पाणिचरणं सचैलः स्नातवानथ

Transliteration

gaṃgāvaraṇayorviṣṇuḥ saṃbhede svacchamānasaḥ | prakṣālya pāṇicaraṇaṃ sacailaḥ snātavānatha

Translation

At the confluence of Gaṅgā and Varaṇā, Viṣṇu—his mind serene and clear—washed his hands and feet, and then bathed there, still wearing his garments.

Word by Word

• गङ्गावरणयोः: at (the confluence of) Gaṅgā and Varaṇa
• गङ्गावरणयोः: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा-अवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: गङ्गा च अवरणं च (Ganges and Varaṇa)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्भेदे: at the confluence/junction
• सम्भेदे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्वच्छमानसः: having a pure mind
• स्वच्छमानसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छ-मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: स्वच्छं मानसं यस्य (one whose mind is pure/clear)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√क्षल् (कृदन्त; √क्षल् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय — 'having washed'

• पाणिचरणम्: hands and feet
• पाणिचरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि-चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार): पाणि च चरणौ च (hands and feet collectively)

• सचैलः: clothed (with garments on)
• सचैलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-चैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: चैलेन सहितः (wearing clothes)

• स्नातवान्: bathed
• स्नातवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (कृदन्त; √स्ना धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त — 'bathed'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencing/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā–Varaṇā Saṅgama

Type: sangam

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the meeting of Gaṅgā and Varaṇā, Viṣṇu calmly washes hands and feet and bathes, clothed; the waters are clear, with gentle ripples, and the confluence is marked by subtle color/flow difference.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Gaṅgā
• Varaṇā
• Vārāṇasī (implied by river-names)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Approaching a tīrtha with purity of mind and respectful preparation sanctifies the pilgrim’s journey.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Gaṅgā–Varaṇā confluence in the Kāśī region (Vārāṇasī), a key marker of sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tīrtha-snāna at the confluence: first wash hands and feet, then bathe (snāna) with reverence.