Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

रत्नानि सदुकूलानि कांचनं गजवाजिनः । देयाः प्राज्ञेन यत्नेन सदोपमणिकर्णिकम्

Transliteration

ratnāni sadukūlāni kāṃcanaṃ gajavājinaḥ | deyāḥ prājñena yatnena sadopamaṇikarṇikam

Translation

ಅತുല್ಯ ಮಣಿಕರ್ಣಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಞಾನಿಯು ಯತ್ನಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ರತ್ನಗಳು, ಉತ್ತಮ ವಸ್ತ್ರಗಳು, ಸ್ವರ್ಣ, ಆನೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಕುದುರೆಗಳನ್ನು ದಾನವಾಗಿ ನೀಡಬೇಕು।

Word by Word

• रत्नानि: gems
• रत्नानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सत्: good, fine
• सत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-पूर्वपद (उपसर्गवत्), समासपूर्वाङ्ग; अर्थः ‘उत्तम/शुभ’

• दुकूलानि: silken garments
• दुकूलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• काञ्चनम्: gold
• काञ्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• गज: elephant
• गज: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद

• वाजिनः: horses
• वाजिनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• देयाः: should be given
• देयाः: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + य (कृत् प्रत्यय) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विधेयविशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भावे/कर्तरि कर्मणि च ‘देय’ = ‘to be given’ (gerundive)

• प्राज्ञेन: by the wise person
• प्राज्ञेन: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सत्: excellent
• सत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-पूर्वपद (उपसर्गवत्), समासपूर्वाङ्ग; अर्थः ‘उत्तम/शुभ’

• उप: near, towards (as prefix)
• उप: Upasarga (Preverb/उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• मणिकर्णिकम्: Maṇikarṇikā (sacred place)
• मणिकर्णिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मणेः कर्णिका) / संज्ञा-स्थाननाम

Speaker

Śrī Viṣṇu (continuing instruction/praise of Maṇikarṇikā)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Maṇikarṇikā

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (typical Purāṇic frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim at Maṇikarṇikā ghāṭa offers jewels, fine cloth, and gold to worthy recipients; the Gaṅgā flows beside steps crowded with ascetics and pilgrims; lamps and smoke from rites rise in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Maṇikarṇikā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True wisdom expresses itself through generous dāna, especially when offered at a supremely sanctifying tīrtha.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Maṇikarṇikā Tīrtha (Maṇikarṇikā Ghāṭ) in Kāśī (Vārāṇasī).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna: giving valuables such as jewels, clothing, gold, and even great gifts like elephants and horses.