Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

मुनीनां मानसं प्रायो यत्पद्मादपि तन्मृदु । स्त्रियः कठोरहृदयाः स्वरूपेणैव सत्तम

Transliteration

munīnāṃ mānasaṃ prāyo yatpadmādapi tanmṛdu | striyaḥ kaṭhorahṛdayāḥ svarūpeṇaiva sattama

Translation

L’esprit des sages est d’ordinaire plus doux même que le lotus ; mais les femmes, par leur nature même, ont le cœur dur, ô le meilleur des êtres.

Word by Word

• मुनीनाम्: of sages
• मुनीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• मानसम्: mind
• मानसम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रायः: generally
• प्रायः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रायशः/सामान्यतः (generally)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Qualifier within compound
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member), सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• पद्मात्: than a lotus / from a lotus
• पद्मात्: Apadana (Standard of comparison/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Particle (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-कार (even/also)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Qualifier within compound
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member), 'तत्' = 'that'

• मृदु: softer
• मृदु: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); 'यत्-पद्मात्-अपि-तत्-मृदु' इति समाससदृश-समुच्चयः, विशेषणम् 'मानसम्'

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• कठोरहृदयाः: hard-hearted
• कठोरहृदयाः: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कठोर (प्रातिपदिक) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); बहुव्रीहिः—'कठोरं हृदयम् यस्याः सा' (hard-hearted)

• स्वरूपेण: by nature
• स्वरूपेण: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Particle (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (indeed/just)

• सत्तम: O best of the good
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

Speaker

Śuci (apsaras) (direct speech within Skanda’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka-group (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative tableau: the sage’s lotus-like gentle mind symbolized by a lotus near him; Śuci stands aside, the contrast between ascetic softness and worldly hardness suggested through visual metaphors (lotus vs stone).

Characters & Entities

• Munis (sages)
• Lotus (Padma)
• Śuci (apsaras)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It underscores the ideal of a sage’s gentle heart; the speaker uses contrast to plead for mercy, highlighting kṣamā as spiritual excellence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not directly; it remains within the Pañcanada origin narrative that ultimately supports the tīrtha’s Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual act is prescribed; the emphasis is ethical—valuing softness of heart and forgiveness associated with tapas.