Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

सालंकारं समानं च सानंदमुखपंकजम् । विस्मृताखिलकार्यं च दक्षयज्ञप्रवर्तकम्

Transliteration

sālaṃkāraṃ samānaṃ ca sānaṃdamukhapaṃkajam | vismṛtākhilakāryaṃ ca dakṣayajñapravartakam

Translation

Paré et recueilli, le visage-lotus rayonnant de joie; ayant oublié toute autre affaire—il fut l’initiateur même du sacrifice (yajña) de Dakṣa.

Word by Word

• sa-alaṃkāram: adorned
• sa-alaṃkāram: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (स-उपसर्ग/सह) + alaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: अलंकारेण सह/युक्तम् = adorned

• samānam: equal/unchanged
• samānam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• sa-ānanda-mukha-paṃkajam: with a joyful lotus-like face
• sa-ānanda-mukha-paṃkajam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (स-उपपद) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + paṃkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: आनन्दयुक्तं मुखं यस्य तत् (face-lotus with joy)

• vismṛta-akhila-kāryam: having forgotten all tasks
• vismṛta-akhila-kāryam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vismṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √smṛ: स्मृ—स्मरणे with vi-) + akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: अखिलं कार्यं विस्मृतम् यस्य/यत् = having forgotten all duties

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• dakṣa-yajña-pravartakam: the instigator of Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• dakṣa-yajña-pravartakam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + pravartaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दक्षस्य यज्ञस्य प्रवर्तकम् = promoter/instigator of Dakṣa's sacrifice

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue tradition, Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dakṣa-yajña-sthala (mythic)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A richly adorned figure (Dakṣa or the yajña-initiator) stands or sits in ceremonial finery, smiling with lotus-like face, surrounded by ritual paraphernalia—garlands, vessels, fire altar—projecting confident satisfaction.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa
• Dakṣa-yajña

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It depicts the seductive completeness of worldly ritual and celebration—often preceding a dharmic rupture when humility and right reverence are absent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No Kāśī tīrtha is named in the verse; it situates the narrative at Dakṣa’s yajña setting within the chapter’s discourse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No prescription; the verse describes the conduct and atmosphere surrounding the initiation of a yajña.