Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 89

Devanagari script

शरीरमथ संपत्तिरथ सा मणिकर्णिका । त्रिसंयोगोयमप्राप्यो देवैरिंद्रादिकैरपि

Transliteration

śarīramatha saṃpattiratha sā maṇikarṇikā | trisaṃyogoyamaprāpyo devairiṃdrādikairapi

Translation

Un corps humain, des moyens matériels, et cette Maṇikarṇikā : cette triple conjonction est introuvable même pour les dieux, à commencer par Indra.

Word by Word

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अथ: then, and further
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक (then/now)

• संपत्तिः: prosperity, wealth
• संपत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अथ: and then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/समुच्चय (and then)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मणिकर्णिका: Maṇikarṇikā (sacred place)
• मणिकर्णिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (name: Maṇikarṇikā)

• त्रिसंयोगः: the threefold conjunction
• त्रिसंयोगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अप्राप्यः: unattainable
• अप्राप्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + prāpya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √āp + pra-)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष; भाव्य/योग्यतार्थक कृदन्त (यत्); पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• इन्द्रादिकैः: by Indra and others
• इन्द्रादिकैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (Indra and others)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (even/also)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue tradition)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Maṇikarṇikā

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage audience within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau: the three elements—human body, wealth, and Maṇikarṇikā—are symbolically shown as a rare alignment, while Indra and devas look on in astonishment, unable to obtain it.

Characters & Entities

• Maṇikarṇikā
• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Human birth plus the means to act, combined with access to Maṇikarṇikā, is an extraordinary grace and should not be wasted.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Maṇikarṇikā in Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), celebrated as uniquely potent and rare to reach.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is commanded here; the verse frames the rarity that motivates dāna, worship, and pilgrimage practices mentioned nearby.