Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

कायेन कृच्छ्रचरणे ह्यशक्तानां विशुद्धये । ज्ञात्वा तीर्थाविशेषं हि प्रायश्चित्तं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

kāyena kṛcchracaraṇe hyaśaktānāṃ viśuddhaye | jñātvā tīrthāviśeṣaṃ hi prāyaścittaṃ samācaret

Translation

Pour ceux qui, par faiblesse du corps, ne peuvent accomplir de rudes austérités, la pureté s’obtient en reconnaissant la puissance particulière d’un tīrtha et en accomplissant comme il se doit le prāyaścitta approprié.

Word by Word

• कायेन: by the body
• कायेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कृच्छ्रचरणे: in the difficult observance/practice
• कृच्छ्रचरणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र-चरण (प्रातिपदिक; कृच्छ्र + चरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अशक्तानाम्: of the incapable (persons)
• अशक्तानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विशुद्धये: for purification
• विशुद्धये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• तीर्थाविशेषम्: the distinction/specificity of the tīrtha
• तीर्थाविशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ-अविशेष (प्रातिपदिक; तीर्थ + अविशेष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā/Narmadā tīrthas (general)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahārāja (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A weary pilgrim, unable to undertake harsh penance, receives instruction that tīrtha-knowledge and proper expiation at a sacred ford grants purification; the river is implied as the compassionate purifier.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma provides compassionate pathways: when harsh penance is impossible, tīrtha-based expiation can purify.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse highlights tīrtha-viśeṣa in general, preparing for the Narmadā-centered instruction that follows.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform prāyaścitta suited to one’s capacity, guided by the recognized special efficacy of the tīrtha.