Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

क्षीराब्धिसंज्ञं तत्रान्यत्तीर्थं केशवतोग्रतः । कृतोदकक्रियस्तत्र वसेत्क्षीराब्धिरोधसि

Transliteration

kṣīrābdhisaṃjñaṃ tatrānyattīrthaṃ keśavatogrataḥ | kṛtodakakriyastatra vasetkṣīrābdhirodhasi

Translation

There is another tīrtha there, known as ‘Kṣīrābdhi’, situated in front of Keśava. Having performed the water-rites there, one should reside, in observance, upon the bank of Kṣīrābdhi.

Word by Word

• क्षीराब्धिसंज्ञम्: named ‘Kṣīrābdhi’ (Milk Ocean)
• क्षीराब्धिसंज्ञम्: कर्मविशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर + अब्धि + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (क्षीराब्धिः इति संज्ञा यस्य)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: कर्मविशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage spot
• तीर्थम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• केशवतः: of Keśava
• केशवतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अग्रतः: in front (of)
• अग्रतः: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front of)

• कृतोदकक्रियः: one who has performed the water-rites
• कृतोदकक्रियः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + उदक + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (उदकक्रिया कृतः यस्य) — ‘कृत’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from कृ

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

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• क्षीराब्धिरोधसि: on the bank of the Milk Ocean
• क्षीराब्धिरोधसि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + अब्धि + रोधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षीराब्धेः रोधः/तटः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kṣīrābdhi-tīrtha (before Keśava)

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Before the Keśava shrine lies a serene waterbody named Kṣīrābdhi; devotees perform udaka-kriyā with cupped hands, offering water; a quiet bank invites disciplined residence.

Characters & Entities

• Kṣīrābdhi-tīrtha
• Keśava (Ādikeśava)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purifying water-rites performed at a consecrated tīrtha, near the Lord’s presence, are a powerful discipline for inner cleansing and merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kṣīrābdhi-tīrtha, located before Keśava in the Kāśī sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform udaka-kriyā (water rites such as snāna/tarpaṇa) and observe residence/sojourn on the bank of Kṣīrābdhi.