Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तमिदं प्रोक्तं महापापविशोधनम् । नास्तिके न प्रवक्तव्यं काशीमाहात्म्य निंदके

Transliteration

prāyaścittamidaṃ proktaṃ mahāpāpaviśodhanam | nāstike na pravaktavyaṃ kāśīmāhātmya niṃdake

Translation

यह प्रायश्चित्त महापापों का शोधन करने वाला कहा गया है। इसे नास्तिक को और काशी-माहात्म्य की निन्दा करने वाले को नहीं बताना चाहिए।

Word by Word

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रायश्चित्तम्) — Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; demonstrative adjective

• प्रोक्तम्: has been declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/Passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — PPP, Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महापाप-विशोधनम्: purifying (one) of great sins
• महापाप-विशोधनम्: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रायश्चित्तम्) — Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; adjective

• नास्तिके: to/for an atheist
• नास्तिके: Adhikarana (Domain/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रवक्तव्यम्: should be spoken/taught
• प्रवक्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/Prohibition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधेयकृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory passive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Gerundive, Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• काशी-माहात्म्य: the greatness of Kāśī
• काशी-माहात्म्य: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• निंदके: to/for a reviler
• निंदके: Adhikarana (Domain/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निंदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-māhātmya (doctrinal object)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher-figure warns a seeker: the expiation that purifies great sins must not be disclosed to an atheist or a reviler of Kāśī’s glory; the scene conveys guarded transmission and reverent restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī Māhātmya
• Prāyaścitta
• Nāstika (atheist)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred teachings have adhikāra (fitness): expiatory lore is powerful and should be entrusted to those who respect Kāśī’s sanctity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī itself—its Māhātmya (glory) is defended as worthy of reverence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A teaching rule is given: this prāyaścitta should not be disclosed to atheists or to those who denigrate Kāśī’s greatness.