Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

स्मृत्याचारविहीनस्तु गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक् । नटपाखंडिभंडैश्च बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः

Transliteration

smṛtyācāravihīnastu gītavādyavinodabhāk | naṭapākhaṃḍibhaṃḍaiśca baddhapremaparaṃparaḥ

Translation

Privé de la conduite prescrite par la Smṛti, il se complaisait dans les chants et les instruments, et se trouva lié par une chaîne d’attachements à des acteurs, des imposteurs et des bouffons.

Word by Word

• स्मृत्याचारविहीनः: devoid of smṛti-based conduct
• स्मृत्याचारविहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्मृत्याचाराभ्यां विहीनः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक्: one who partakes in entertainment of songs and instruments
• गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनोद (प्रातिपदिक) + भाज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गीतवाद्यविनोदस्य भाक्); कृदन्त (भाज् धातोः क्विप्/क्विन्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नटपाखंडिभंडैः: with actors, hypocrites, and buffoons
• नटपाखंडिभंडैः: Sahakari (Instrument/Association/सहकारि-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट (प्रातिपदिक) + पाखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (नटाः पाखण्डिनः भण्डाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः: having a chain of attachment (fixed affection)
• बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + परंपरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बद्धं प्रेम यस्य परंपरा/परम्परया); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A man sits amid musicians and actors with masks; nearby, ascetics and brāhmaṇas recite quietly. The composition shows a literal ‘chain’ motif linking him to buffoons and impostors, symbolizing attachment.

Characters & Entities

• Smṛti
• Naṭa
• Pākhaṇḍin

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When Smṛti-guided conduct is abandoned, the mind runs toward entertainment and corrupt company, forging bondage through attachment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is named; the verse supports the moral arc that later highlights the need for sacred refuge (as in Kāśī narratives).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it critiques the abandonment of Smṛti-based ācāra rather than prescribing a specific rite.