Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 98

Devanagari script

व्यसनैरभिभूतस्य धनहीनस्य पापिनः । गंगैव केवलं तस्य गतिरुक्ता न चान्यथा

Transliteration

vyasanairabhibhūtasya dhanahīnasya pāpinaḥ | gaṃgaiva kevalaṃ tasya gatiruktā na cānyathā

Translation

Pour celui que les malheurs accablent — pauvre et chargé de péché — la Gaṅgā seule est proclamée refuge et voie ; nullement autrement.

Word by Word

• व्यसनैः: by misfortunes
• व्यसनैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अभिभूतस्य: of one who is overwhelmed
• अभिभूतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-भूत (भू धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विशेषणम्

• धनहीनस्य: of one lacking wealth
• धनहीनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्; समासः—धनेन हीनः/धन-हीनः (तत्पुरुष)

• पापिनः: of a sinner
• पापिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (Restriction/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (restrictive particle: ‘only’)

• केवलम्: solely
• केवलम्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: ‘solely/merely’)

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Generic), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• गतिः: refuge/way
• गतिः: Karta (Subject complement/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• उक्ता: is said (to be)
• उक्ता: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘गति’ इति विशेषणम् (predicate adjective: ‘is said’)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: ‘and’)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: ‘otherwise’)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Kāśī)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A destitute, grief-stricken pilgrim sits on ghat steps; as he turns to Gaṅgā with folded hands, the river’s light surrounds him, and symbols of misfortune (broken cart, empty bowl) fade into the background.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṅgā is portrayed as compassionate refuge for those lacking worldly support, emphasizing surrender and tīrtha-grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā-tīrtha, central to Kāśī’s salvific landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is stated; the teaching is devotional—take refuge in Gaṅgā.