Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

वेलातिक्रममालोक्य पुनर्बभ्राम तां पुरीम् । गृहेगृहे परिप्राप्ता भिक्षान्यैः सर्वभिक्षुकैः

Transliteration

velātikramamālokya punarbabhrāma tāṃ purīm | gṛhegṛhe pariprāptā bhikṣānyaiḥ sarvabhikṣukaiḥ

Translation

Voyant que l’heure convenable était passée, il erra de nouveau dans cette cité. Mais de maison en maison, l’aumône était obtenue par d’autres mendiants.

Word by Word

• वेलातिक्रमम्: the passing of time; transgression of the time
• वेलातिक्रमम्: कर्म (Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेला + अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेलायाः अतिक्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: पूर्वकर्म (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having seen/observed’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• बभ्राम: he wandered
• बभ्राम: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुरीम् इति विशेषण

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गृहे: in a house
• गृहे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः

• गृहे: in (each) house
• गृहे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘house to house’ अर्थे

• परिप्राप्ता: were obtained/received (fully)
• परिप्राप्ता: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भिक्षाः इति विशेष्य

• भिक्षाः: alms
• भिक्षाः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: कर्ता/करण (Agent/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वभिक्षुकैः इति विशेषण

• सर्वभिक्षुकैः: by all (other) mendicants
• सर्वभिक्षुकैः: कर्ता/करण (Agent/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सर्वे भिक्षुकाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator voice within Skanda’s discourse (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage notices the sun’s position—late for alms—then circles the city again; other mendicants receive food first, leaving him empty-handed; the city appears busy with charity already ‘spent’.

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Kāśī
• Bhikṣukas (mendicants)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When supports vanish and opportunities pass, the ascetic learns patience and equanimity rather than entitlement.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī, depicted as a living spiritual society where mendicants move from house to house.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The regulated timing of bhikṣā (alms-meal) is implied, along with acceptance when the time is missed.