Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

वह्निस्वरूपा ललना नवनीत समः पुमान् । अनभिज्ञा वदंतीति विचारान्महदंतरम्

Transliteration

vahnisvarūpā lalanā navanīta samaḥ pumān | anabhijñā vadaṃtīti vicārānmahadaṃtaram

Translation

「無知なる者は言う。女人は火の性、男は酥（バター）のごとし、と。だが思惟すれば、真実ははるかに微妙で、まったく異なる。」

Word by Word

• वह्निस्वरूपा: having the nature of fire
• वह्निस्वरूपा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वह्नेः स्वरूपा)

• ललना: woman
• ललना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• नवनीत: butter
• नवनीत: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.); उपमान (standard of comparison)

• समः: like, similar
• समः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.); उपमान-सम्बन्धी विशेषण

• पुमान्: man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• अनभिज्ञाः: ignorant (people)
• अनभिज्ञाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनभिज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom. pl.); विशेषण (वदन्ति-कर्तृ)

• वदन्ति: say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन (3rd pl.)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative)

• विचारात्: from reflection
• विचारात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन (Abl. sg.)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.); अंतरम्-विशेषण

• अन्तरम्: difference
• अन्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

Speaker

Muni (sage) speaking (continuing counsel to Śucī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage gestures as if weighing two symbols: a flame and a lump of butter, then points to his forehead (vicāra), indicating a deeper truth beyond appearances.

Characters & Entities

• Śucī (apsarā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Do not rely on crude generalizations; apply vicāra (reasoned reflection) to understand conduct and responsibility.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the instruction is part of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader dharma-teaching.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a moral-psychological teaching centered on discernment.