Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

एकाहारः सदा कार्यो न द्वितीयं कदाचन । त्रिरात्रं पंचरात्रं वा पक्षव्रतमथापि वा

Transliteration

ekāhāraḥ sadā kāryo na dvitīyaṃ kadācana | trirātraṃ paṃcarātraṃ vā pakṣavratamathāpi vā

Translation

Qu’on observe toujours un seul repas par jour, jamais un second; ou bien qu’on prenne un vœu de trois nuits, de cinq nuits, ou même une observance de quinzaine.

Word by Word

• एकाहारः: single meal (one-meal regimen)
• एकाहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (एकः आहारः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण

• कार्यः: should be done/observed
• कार्यः: Vidheyā (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातोः कृत्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• द्वितीयम्: a second (meal)
• द्वितीयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण-प्रयुक्तं (elliptic: ‘second [meal]’)

• कदाचन: ever; at any time
• कदाचन: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (at any time/ever)

• त्रिरात्रम्: three-night (vow/fast)
• त्रिरात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि रात्राणि)

• पञ्चरात्रम्: five-night (vow/fast)
• पञ्चरात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च रात्राणि)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• पक्षव्रतम्: fortnight vow
• पक्षव्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पक्षस्य व्रतम्)

• अथ: then; moreover
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/and further)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim or widow in Kāśī counting days on a palm-leaf calendar, taking a single simple meal; nearby a small lamp before a Śiva-liṅga; Gaṅgā ghāṭa silhouettes at dusk.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Kāśī (implied context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Self-restraint through measured eating and timed vows is taught as a dharmic discipline supporting spiritual merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction occurs within the Kāśī narrative frame, but no individual tirtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Ekāhāra (one meal daily) and optional vows lasting three nights, five nights, or a fortnight.