Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

एकमेव हि साहाय्यं कुरु मातरतंद्रिता । अनुज्ञा दानमात्रं च आशीर्भिरभिनंदय

Transliteration

ekameva hi sāhāyyaṃ kuru mātarataṃdritā | anujñā dānamātraṃ ca āśīrbhirabhinaṃdaya

Translation

മാതാവേ, മടിയില്ലാതെ എനിക്കൊരു സഹായം മാത്രം ചെയ്യുക: അനുമതി തരിക, കഴിയുന്നത്ര ചെറിയ ദാനം നൽകുക, ശുഭാശീർവാദങ്ങളാൽ എന്നെ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കുക.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एव: only, indeed
• एव: Emphasis (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: Hetu-marker (हेतु-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय

• साहाय्यम्: help, assistance
• साहाय्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुरु: do, grant
• कुरु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मातर्: O mother
• मातर्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• अतन्द्रिता: unwearied, not sluggish
• अतन्द्रिता: Visheshana of addressee (सम्बोधन-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + तन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• अनुज्ञा: permission
• अनुज्ञा: Karta/Predicate nominal (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दानमात्रम्: mere giving (only a gift)
• दानमात्रम्: Apposition/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (दानमेव मात्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आशीर्भिः: with blessings
• आशीर्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अभिनन्दय: bless, congratulate, approve
• अभिनन्दय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Dhruva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A questioning sage/audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The child asks his mother for a single aid: permission, a small gift, and blessings—hands folded, eyes earnest; mother torn between fear and love.

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Sunīti
• āśīḥ (blessing)
• anujñā (permission)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A seeker values righteous support—permission, minimal provisions, and blessings—before embarking on disciplined practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified in this verse; the focus is on preparation for tapas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It mentions anujñā (permission), dāna (a small provision/charity), and āśīḥ (blessings) as supportive acts for a spiritual undertaking.