Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

न वीक्षेतात्ममनोरूपमाशुधावेन्न वर्षति । नोल्लंघयेद्वत्सतंत्रीं न नग्नो जलमाविशेत्

Transliteration

na vīkṣetātmamanorūpamāśudhāvenna varṣati | nollaṃghayedvatsataṃtrīṃ na nagno jalamāviśet

Translation

സ്വന്തം രൂപം ആസക്തിയോടെ നോക്കരുത്. മഴയില്ലാത്തപ്പോൾ വ്യർത്ഥമായി വേഗത്തിൽ ഓടരുത്. കാളക്കുട്ടിയുടെ കെട്ടുകയർ കടക്കരുത്; നഗ്നനായി ജലത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः

• वीक्षेत: should look at
• वीक्षेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचन

• आत्म-मनोरूपम्: one's own pleasing form (reflection)
• आत्म-मनोरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मनो-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘आत्मनः मनोहरं रूपम्’ इति (प्रतिबिम्ब/स्वरूप)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• धावेत्: should run
• धावेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः

• वर्षति: it rains
• वर्षति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः

• उल्लङ्घयेत्: should jump over
• उल्लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचन

• वत्सतन्त्रीम्: a calf’s tether/rope
• वत्सतन्त्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘वत्सस्य तन्त्री’ (calf-tether/rope)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः

• नग्नः: naked
• नग्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तुः)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• आविशेत्: should enter
• आविशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Gaṅgā-ghāṭs)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/householders

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Kāśī ghāṭ: a pilgrim bathes modestly with cloth, eyes lowered; nearby a calf and its tether are respectfully avoided; a reflective water surface shows a faint self-image the pilgrim does not indulge; the scene emphasizes quiet decorum.

Characters & Entities

• Vatsa (calf)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through modesty, restraint, and mindful everyday etiquette.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of Kāśī-khaṇḍa’s dharma teaching, shaping conduct befitting Kashi’s sacred environment.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avoid vanity in self-reflection, avoid needless running, do not step over a calf’s tether, and do not enter water naked.