Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

लक्षणैः परिहीनोपि सम्यगाचारतत्परः । श्रद्धालुरनसूयुश्च नरो जीवेत्समाः शतम

Transliteration

lakṣaṇaiḥ parihīnopi samyagācāratatparaḥ | śraddhāluranasūyuśca naro jīvetsamāḥ śatama

Translation

Même privé de signes extérieurs, s’il est voué à la juste conduite—plein de foi et sans esprit de blâme—un homme peut vivre cent ans.

Word by Word

• लक्षणैः: by marks/qualities
• लक्षणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• परिहीनः: deprived, lacking
• परिहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + √हा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त; हीन)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even (if)
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive: even/also)

• सम्यगाचारतत्परः: devoted to proper conduct
• सम्यगाचारतत्परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सम्यगाचार-तत्परः = devoted to right conduct)

• श्रद्धालुः: faithful
• श्रद्धालुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + आलु (प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनसूयुः: non-envious
• अनसूयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनसूयु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जीवेत्: may live / should live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समाः: years
• समाः: Karma (Extent/कर्म-परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (कालपरिमाणे)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Visheshana (Quantifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (संख्याविशेषणम्)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Muni (sage) and audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A simple-looking devotee without priestly insignia stands respectfully with folded hands, while a radiant aura subtly indicates inner virtue; nearby, a group refrains from gossip, symbolized by closed lips and calm eyes; a '100-year' longevity motif shown as a full blooming tree with many rings.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma values inner character—faith and non-censure—over external labels; such conduct supports well-being and longevity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This is a moral teaching within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa setting rather than a direct praise of a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is stated; the practice prescribed is samyag-ācāra along with śraddhā and anasūyā.