Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामिह पापानां प्रायश्चित्तचिकीर्षया । निःशंकैरेव वक्तव्यं प्रमाणज्ञैरिदं वचः

Transliteration

sarveṣāmiha pāpānāṃ prāyaścittacikīrṣayā | niḥśaṃkaireva vaktavyaṃ pramāṇajñairidaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

Afin d’accomplir ici l’expiation de tous les péchés, cette parole doit être énoncée sans hésitation par ceux qui connaissent les autorités valides (pramāṇa).

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• iha: here
• iha: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• pāpānām: of sins
• pāpānām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• prāyaścitta-cikīrṣayā: with the intention of doing expiation
• prāyaścitta-cikīrṣayā: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक) + cikīrṣā (कृदन्त-भाव; √kṛ कृ + सन् (desiderative) → cikīrṣā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रायश्चित्तस्य चिकीर्षा = desire to perform expiation)

• niḥśaṃkaiḥ: by the fearless / unhesitating
• niḥśaṃkaiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥśaṃka (प्रातिपदिक; nir- + śaṃka)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• eva: indeed / only
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• vaktavyam: should be spoken
• vaktavyam: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaktavya (कृदन्त; √vac वच् + तव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक-कर्तव्यता (gerundive: 'to be said')

• pramāṇajñaiḥ: by those who know the authorities/proofs
• pramāṇajñaiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √jñā ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रमाणं जानन्ति ये)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; 'vacaḥ' इति विशेषण

• vacaḥ: statement / words
• vacaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśī Khaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Audience seeking prāyaścitta and certainty

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A learned authority (ācārya) in Kāśī instructs assembled pilgrims, holding palm-leaf manuscripts; behind them, a glimpse of Viśveśvara temple spire and ghāṭ steps, symbolizing pramāṇa and lived practice.

Characters & Entities

• Prāyaścitta
• Pramāṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Matters of expiation should be taught confidently and responsibly, grounded in recognized scriptural authority.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader discourse is situated in Kāśī Khaṇḍa, where Kāśī’s dharmic remedies and disciplines are emphasized.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It does not specify a rite; it frames the authoritative transmission of prāyaścitta guidance.