Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

कर्णवेधं ततः कृत्वा श्रवणर्क्षे सकर्मवित् । ब्रह्मतेजोभिवृद्ध्यर्थं पंचमेऽब्दे व्रतं ददौ

Transliteration

karṇavedhaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā śravaṇarkṣe sakarmavit | brahmatejobhivṛddhyarthaṃ paṃcame'bde vrataṃ dadau

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം കർമവിദ്യയിൽ നിപുണനായവൻ ശ്രവണ നക്ഷത്രത്തിൽ കർണവേധസംസ്കാരം നടത്തി; ബ്രഹ്മതേജസ് (ആത്മീയ ദീപ്തി) വർദ്ധിക്കാനായി അഞ്ചാം വർഷത്തിൽ വ്രതം നൽകി.

Word by Word

• कर्णवेधम्: ear-piercing (ceremony)
• कर्णवेधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण + वेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्णस्य वेधः)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from then)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• श्रवणर्क्षे: under the Śravaṇa constellation
• श्रवणर्क्षे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (श्रवण-नाम्नि नक्षत्रे)

• सकर्मवित्: one who knows the rites (with proper knowledge)
• सकर्मवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + कर्मवित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/सह-समास (कर्मवित् सह)

• ब्रह्मतेजोऽभिवृद्ध्यर्थम्: for the increase of brahmanic splendor
• ब्रह्मतेजोऽभिवृद्ध्यर्थम्: Hetu/Purpose (Prayojana/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मतेजस् + अभिवृद्धि + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास-समूहः: (1) ब्रह्मतेजस् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः तेजः) + (2) अभिवृद्ध्यर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अभिवृद्धेः अर्थम्)

• पंचमे: in the fifth
• पंचमे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अब्दे’ विशेषण

• अब्दे: year
• अब्दे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददौ: gave / bestowed
• ददौ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Gaṇas (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ear-piercing ceremony with priest marking the child’s ear, protective mantras, and auspicious symbols; above, a stylized star-map motif indicating Śravaṇa; later, the child receiving a small vow-string or instruction tablet symbolizing vrata.

Characters & Entities

• Śravaṇa (nakṣatra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Saṃskāras and vows are presented as means to cultivate inner brilliance (tejas) and disciplined dharmic character from childhood.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the context is within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s broader sacred narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Karṇavedha performed under Śravaṇa nakṣatra, and a vrata instituted in the child’s fifth year for spiritual lustre.