Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

अत्र यात्रा महाचैत्र्यां कार्या क्षेत्रनिवासिभिः । तारकज्ञानलाभाय क्षेत्रविघ्ननिवर्तिनी

Transliteration

atra yātrā mahācaitryāṃ kāryā kṣetranivāsibhiḥ | tārakajñānalābhāya kṣetravighnanivartinī

Translation

ഇവിടെ മഹാചൈത്രി കാലത്ത് ക്ഷേത്രനിവാസികൾ യാത്രാ-പ്രദക്ഷിണ നടത്തണം; അത് താരകജ്ഞാനം നൽകുകയും പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രത്തിനുള്ളിലെ വിഘ്നങ്ങൾ നീക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും।

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Locative-adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (indeclinable adverb of place)

• यात्रा: pilgrimage, procession
• यात्रा: Karma (Object; to be done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• महाचैत्र्याम्: on the great Caitrī (festival/day in Caitra)
• महाचैत्र्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Locative-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाचैत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती चैत्री)

• कार्या: should be done
• कार्या: Kriya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्य अर्थे कृदन्त (gerundive, यत्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘यात्रा’ इति पदस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

• क्षेत्रनिवासिभिः: by the residents of the sacred field (Kāśī)
• क्षेत्रनिवासिभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument; doer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रनिवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रे निवासिनः)

• तारकज्ञानलाभाय: for obtaining saving/liberating knowledge
• तारकज्ञानलाभाय: Sampradāna (Purpose/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक-ज्ञान-लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (तारकस्य ज्ञानस्य लाभः)

• क्षेत्रविघ्ननिवर्तिनी: (the pilgrimage) that removes obstacles in the sacred field
• क्षेत्रविघ्ननिवर्तिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier of ‘यात्रा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेत्र-विघ्न-निवर्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रस्य विघ्नान् निवर्तयति इति)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (Mahā-Caitrī yātrā)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Caitra-season procession in Kāśī: devotees carrying flags and lamps move along ghāṭs and lanes, chanting; a subtle radiance labeled ‘tāraka-jñāna’ descends, while dark knots symbolizing ‘vighna’ dissolve within the kṣetra boundary.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• Kṣetra (sacred field)
• Mahācaitrī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage undertaken with community dharma in Kāśī is portrayed as a direct means to liberating insight and the clearing of impediments.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-kṣetra (Vārāṇasī as the sacred field) is emphasized as the arena where obstacles are dissolved.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

To perform a yātrā (pilgrimage/procession) during Mahācaitrī/Caitra by those living in the kṣetra.