Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

रजक उवाच । एतानि विप्रा वस्त्राणि मया क्षिप्तानि मोहतः । नीलीमध्ये सुवस्त्राणि विनष्टानि च कृत्स्नशः

Transliteration

rajaka uvāca | etāni viprā vastrāṇi mayā kṣiptāni mohataḥ | nīlīmadhye suvastrāṇi vinaṣṭāni ca kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

ರಜಕನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಓ ವಿಪ್ರರೇ, ಮೋಹದಿಂದ ನಾನು ಈ ವಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಲಿ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಸೆದೆ; ಸುಂದರ ವಸ್ತ್ರಗಳು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ನಾಶವಾದವು।

Word by Word

• rajakaḥ: the washerman
• rajakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• etāni: these
• etāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (plural)

• viprāḥ: O Brahmins
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Voc.), बहुवचन

• vastrāṇi: cloths/garments
• vastrāṇi: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instr.), एकवचन

• kṣiptāni: thrown
• kṣiptāni: Karma (Object-state/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṣip (धातु) → kṣipta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• mohataḥ: out of delusion
• mohataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'मोहात्' (from delusion)

• nīlī-madhye: in the indigo (dye) vat
• nīlī-madhye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīlī (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc.), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'नील्याः मध्ये' (in the indigo-vat/blue dye)

• su-vastrāṇi: fine garments
• su-vastrāṇi: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सुन्दराणि वस्त्राणि'

• vinaṣṭāni: destroyed/lost
• vinaṣṭāni: Karma (Object-state/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√naś (धातु) → vinaṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• kṛtsnaśaḥ: completely
• kṛtsnaśaḥ: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb of manner/extent): 'कृत्स्नशः' (entirely)

Speaker

Rajaka (washerman)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: brāhmaṇas (viprāḥ)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The washerman speaks with folded hands to brāhmaṇas, pointing toward a large indigo dye-vat; ruined fine garments are shown darkened, symbolizing loss and remorse.

Characters & Entities

• rajaka (washerman)
• vipra/brāhmaṇas
• nīlī (indigo dye)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Admitting wrongdoing and recognizing delusion (moha) is the first step toward restoration through dharmic action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is within Tīrthamāhātmya narration, but the tīrtha’s proper name is not stated here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it provides the backstory for a later sacred intervention connected with purification.