Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

सुसूक्ष्माणि विचित्राणि नोज्ज्वलान्यंबराण्यपि । समर्पितानि विप्रेभ्यो दिव्यांबर समृद्धये

Transliteration

susūkṣmāṇi vicitrāṇi nojjvalānyaṃbarāṇyapi | samarpitāni viprebhyo divyāṃbara samṛddhaye

Translation

Je n’ai pas non plus offert aux brāhmaṇas des vêtements d’une finesse extrême, aux motifs merveilleux et éclatants, dons qui procurent l’abondance des parures divines.

Word by Word

• सुसूक्ष्माणि: very fine/subtle
• सुसूक्ष्माणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• विचित्राणि: variegated, wonderful
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• उज्ज्वलानि: bright, shining
• उज्ज्वलानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• अम्बराणि: garments, cloths
• अम्बराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• समर्पितानि: offered, presented
• समर्पितानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अर्प् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘समर्पित’ = offered (Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• विप्रेभ्यः: to the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (Masculine, Dat., Pl.)

• दिव्य-अम्बर-समृद्धये: for the prosperity of divine garments
• दिव्य-अम्बर-समृद्धये: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + समृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन-द्योतक दत्तिविभक्ति (Feminine, Dat., Sg.; for the purpose of)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A remorseful pilgrim in Kāśī recalls not gifting radiant patterned garments to brāhmaṇas; the Gaṅgā and temple spires appear in the background, emphasizing missed merit and longing for purification.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Refined charity (such as clothing gifts) is a dharmic means to cultivate dignity, splendor, and future well-being.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting; this verse highlights dāna rather than a particular ghat or shrine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vastra-dāna: offering fine, radiant garments to worthy recipients (vipras/brāhmaṇas).