Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
प्रोक्तोसावुपकुर्वाणो द्वितीयस्तत्र नैष्ठिकः । तिष्ठेत्तावद्गुरुकुले यावत्स्यादायुषः क्षयः
proktosāvupakurvāṇo dvitīyastatra naiṣṭhikaḥ | tiṣṭhettāvadgurukule yāvatsyādāyuṣaḥ kṣayaḥ
ഇവിടെ ‘ഉപകുർവാണൻ’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു; രണ്ടാമത്തേത് ‘നൈഷ്ഠികൻ’. അവൻ ആയുസ്സ് തീരുവോളം—ജീവിതാന്തം വരെ—ഗുരുകുലത്തിൽ വസിക്കണം.
Skanda
Scene: A serene gurukula courtyard: a naiṣṭhika brahmacārī seated near the guru, holding a staff, with palm-leaf manuscripts and a sacred fire in the background; the student’s posture conveys lifelong resolve.
FAQs
Dharma offers distinct paths: one may complete study and serve society, or embrace lifelong discipline in service of sacred learning.
Within Kāśī’s puranic context, the verse reflects Kāśī as a seat of enduring gurukula tradition and spiritual discipline.
It prescribes the lifelong residence of the naiṣṭhika brahmacārī in the guru’s household until death.