Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

नितांतं कमलाकांते शांतचित्तं विधाय यः । संशीलयेत्क्षणं नूनं कमला तत्र निश्चला

Transliteration

nitāṃtaṃ kamalākāṃte śāṃtacittaṃ vidhāya yaḥ | saṃśīlayetkṣaṇaṃ nūnaṃ kamalā tatra niścalā

Translation

ആരു മനസ്സിനെ അത്യന്തം ശാന്തമാക്കി കമലാകാന്തനിൽ (ലക്ഷ്മീപതി) സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ക്ഷണമാത്രം പോലും ആ ധ്യാനത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നുവോ—അവിടെ കമലാ (ലക്ഷ്മി) നിശ്ചലമായി വസിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नितान्तम्: completely
• नितान्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नितान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial accusative) ‘exceedingly/entirely’

• कमला-कान्ते: O beloved of Kamalā (Viṣṇu)
• कमला-कान्ते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमला (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कमलायाः कान्तः)

• शान्त-चित्तम्: a calm mind
• शान्त-चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त, क्त; √शम्) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शान्तं चित्तम्)

• विधाय: having made
• विधाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having done/made’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• संशीलयेत्: should practice/cultivate
• संशीलयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + शीलय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कालावधिवाचक (accusative of duration)

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक (particle of certainty)

• कमला: Lakṣmī
• कमला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• निश्चला: steady/immovable
• निश्चला: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कमला इति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (inner dhyāna-tīrtha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tranquil meditator visualizes Viṣṇu as Kamalākānta; Lakṣmī appears steady at His chest/side, symbolizing unwavering auspiciousness settling where the mind is calm.

Characters & Entities

• Kamalākānta
• Kamalā (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even brief, sincere contemplation with a peaceful mind draws auspiciousness—symbolized by Lakṣmī’s steady presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse itself is devotional rather than geographical; its placement is within Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s larger sacred-topography narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A meditative practice: establish a śānta-citta and contemplate Kamalākānta, even momentarily.