Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

सर्वलक्षणशोभाढ्यां सर्वावयव सुंदरीम् । मुनिस्तत्याज नोत्संगात्क्षणमात्रमपि क्वचित्

Transliteration

sarvalakṣaṇaśobhāḍhyāṃ sarvāvayava suṃdarīm | munistatyāja notsaṃgātkṣaṇamātramapi kvacit

Translation

Adorned with the radiance of every auspicious mark, beautiful in every limb, the sage never let her go from his lap—even for a moment, at any time.

Word by Word

• सर्वलक्षणशोभाढ्याम्: rich in all marks of beauty
• सर्वलक्षणशोभाढ्याम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लक्षण + शोभा + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक); ‘सर्वलक्षणशोभाढ्या’
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वैः लक्षणैः शोभया च आढ्या)

• सर्वावयवसुंदरीम्: beautiful in every limb
• सर्वावयवसुंदरीम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अवयव + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक); ‘सर्वावयवसुन्दरी’
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वेषु अवयवेषु सुन्दरी)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• तत्: her
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• त्याज: abandoned/let go
• त्याज: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• उत्संगात्: from (his) lap
• उत्संगात्: Apādāna (Source/separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्

• क्षणमात्रम्: even for a moment
• क्षणमात्रम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Extent of time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक); ‘क्षणमात्र’
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (क्षणस्य मात्रम्)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even)

• क्वचित्: at any time/anywhere
• क्वचित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (adverb: ever/anywhere)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced narrative voice in Kāśīkhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage holds the radiant, auspiciously marked maiden close, never letting her leave his lap; her beauty is serene, not erotic—an icon of auspicious destiny under ascetic protection.

Characters & Entities

• Vedaśiras
• Dhūtāpāpā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It elevates loving guardianship as dharma—protecting and cherishing what is auspicious and divinely entrusted.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; it is an āśrama-centered narrative within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive, emphasizing care rather than ritual.