Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 99

Devanagari script

कंबलानि विचित्राणि निर्वातानि गृहाणि च । मृदुलाः पादरक्षाश्च सुगंध्युद्वर्त्तनानि च

Transliteration

kaṃbalāni vicitrāṇi nirvātāni gṛhāṇi ca | mṛdulāḥ pādarakṣāśca sugaṃdhyudvarttanāni ca

Translation

Qu’on donne des couvertures aux couleurs variées, des demeures abritées du vent (ou un gîte), des chaussures souples pour protéger les pieds, et des poudres ou onguents parfumés pour l’onction du corps.

Word by Word

• कंबलानि: blankets
• कंबलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन

• विचित्राणि: variegated, wonderful
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निर्वातानि: windless, sheltered from wind
• निर्वातानि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गृहाणि: houses, dwellings
• गृहाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन

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

• मृदुलाः: soft
• मृदुलाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पादरक्षाः: foot-protectors, footwear
• पादरक्षाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य रक्षा)

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

• सुगंधि: fragrant
• सुगंधि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पूर्वपद)

• उद्वर्त्तनानि: body-ointments, unguents (for rubbing)
• उद्वर्त्तनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्वर्त्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue framework)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (Viśvanātha-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (Naimiṣāraṇya frame typical of Purāṇic narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Kāśī street near a ghat: pilgrims wrapped in patterned blankets; a donor offers soft pādukās and fragrant udvartana; a sheltered dharmaśālā stands behind; distant temple spire and Gaṅgā steps frame the act of giving.

Characters & Entities

• Kaṃbala (blanket)
• Udvarttana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Providing comfort and protection to others—shelter, warmth, and basic necessities—is elevated as sacred giving.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred geography in this chapter’s charity instructions.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Donate blankets, draft-free lodging, soft footwear, and fragrant body-anointing materials.