Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

पुरुपार्थं समालंब्य ये यतंते महाधियः । विधिरेव हि साहाय्यं कुर्यात्तत्सत्त्वचोदितः

Transliteration

purupārthaṃ samālaṃbya ye yataṃte mahādhiyaḥ | vidhireva hi sāhāyyaṃ kuryāttatsattvacoditaḥ

Translation

Ceux dont l’intelligence est grande, qui s’efforcent en prenant l’effort humain pour appui : la Providence elle-même devient leur secours, poussée par ce courage.

Word by Word

• पुरुपार्थम्: a great purpose/goal
• पुरुपार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरु + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘बहु-प्रयोजनम्/महानर्थम्’

• समालम्ब्य: having taken support of
• समालम्ब्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having resorted to/taken support of’

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• यतन्ते: strive, make effort
• यतन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महाधियः: great-minded, intelligent
• महाधियः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘great-intellect’

• विधिः: fate/ordinance; proper means
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Niyamaka (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed/only)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• साहाय्यम्: help, assistance
• साहाय्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/provide
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सत्त्वस्य विशेषणम् (that)

• सत्त्वचोदितः: impelled by courage
• सत्त्वचोदितः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + चोदित (प्रातिपदिक; √चुद् ‘to impel’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘सत्त्वेन चोदितः’ (impelled by courage)

Speaker

Śyena (hawk) (within continuing speech)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical moment: a determined bird (or pilgrim-figure) stands firm while an unseen ‘Providence’ presence—light, halo, or Śiva’s subtle emblem—appears as supportive force.

Characters & Entities

• Vidhi (providence/fate)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma honors effort (puruṣārtha): when one strives with courage, even fate (vidhi) turns supportive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is mentioned; the verse is ethical-philosophical within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.