Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

अनध्ययनशीलं च सदाचारविलंघिनम् । सालसं च दुरन्नादं ब्राह्मणं बाधतेंऽतकः

Transliteration

anadhyayanaśīlaṃ ca sadācāravilaṃghinam | sālasaṃ ca durannādaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ bādhateṃ'takaḥ

Translation

അധ്യയനം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, സദാചാരം ലംഘിച്ച്, ആലസ്യത്തിൽ കഴിയുകയും അശുദ്ധ ദുരന്നം ആശ്രയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന ബ്രാഹ്മണനെ അന്തകൻ (മരണം) പിടിച്ചെടുക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अनध्ययनशीलम्: habitually not studying
• अनध्ययनशीलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अनध्ययनस्य शीलम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; ब्राह्मणम् इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction) — and

• सदाचारविलङ्घिनम्: one who transgresses good conduct
• सदाचारविलङ्घिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदाचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विलङ्घिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सदाचारं विलङ्घते इति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; ब्राह्मणम् इति विशेषणम्

• सालसम्: lazy, slothful
• सालसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; ब्राह्मणम् इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction) — and

• दुरन्नादम्: one who eats bad/impure food
• दुरन्नादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरन्नाद (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + अन्नाद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; ब्राह्मणम् इति विशेषणम्

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बाधते: afflicts, troubles
• बाधते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन — Present, 3rd person, Singular

• अन्तकः: Death (Yama)
• अन्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A brāhmaṇa neglects study and sits in sloth with impure food; behind him looms Antaka (Yama-like figure) casting a shadow. In contrast, a disciplined brāhmaṇa studies by lamp, eats pure food, and is surrounded by a protective aura.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Antaka (Yama/Death)
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual status requires upkeep: study, right conduct, diligence, and pure livelihood; neglect invites ruin.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse belongs to Kāśī-khaṇḍa, implying that sacred residence or pilgrimage must be supported by strict ācāra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Adhyayana (scriptural study) and sadācāra (proper conduct) are prescribed; dietary purity is implied by rejecting durannāda (impure/unwholesome eating).