Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 63

Devanagari script

कराभ्यां धारयेत्पश्चादंगुष्ठौ दृढबंधवित् । भवेत्पद्मासनादस्मादभ्यासाद्दृढविग्रहः

Transliteration

karābhyāṃ dhārayetpaścādaṃguṣṭhau dṛḍhabaṃdhavit | bhavetpadmāsanādasmādabhyāsāddṛḍhavigrahaḥ

Translation

ನಂತರ ದೃಢಬಂಧವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದವನು ಎರಡೂ ಕೈಗಳಿಂದ ಎರಡೂ ಪಾದಗಳ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬೆರಳುಗಳನ್ನು ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ಹಿಡಿಯಬೇಕು; ಈ ಪದ್ಮಾಸನಾಭ್ಯಾಸದಿಂದ ದೇಹವು ಸುದೃಢವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• कराभ्याम्: with (both) hands
• कराभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन

• धारयेत्: should hold; should support
• धारयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (adverb: afterwards)

• अङ्गुष्ठौ: (both) big toes
• अङ्गुष्ठौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), द्विवचन

• दृढबन्धवित्: one who knows firm locking/binding
• दृढबन्धवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (दृढं बन्धं वेत्ति इति)

• भवेत्: would become; should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पद्मासनात्: from padmāsana
• पद्मासनात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ (from/by)

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; निर्देश (from this)

• अभ्यासात्: from practice
• अभ्यासात्: Apadana (Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ (by practice)

• दृढविग्रहः: one with a firm body/frame
• दृढविग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/प्रत्ययार्थ), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दृढः विग्रहः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Agastya

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin in Padmāsana reaches forward with both hands to hold the big toes; posture remains upright and composed; subtle depiction of ‘bandha’ as energetic containment.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• Padmāsana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Yogic progress depends on steadiness and correct technique—firm locks and consistent practice cultivate stability.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching occurs within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī setting; the verse is instructional rather than tīrtha-specific.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Hold the great toes with both hands in Padmāsana, applying a firm, steady ‘bandha’ (lock).