Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

श्रुति भूदेव देवानां नृप साधु तपस्विनाम् । पतिव्रतानां नारीणां निंदां कुर्यान्न कर्हिचित्

Transliteration

śruti bhūdeva devānāṃ nṛpa sādhu tapasvinām | pativratānāṃ nārīṇāṃ niṃdāṃ kuryānna karhicit

Translation

ശ്രുതി (വേദം), ബ്രാഹ്മണർ, ദേവന്മാർ, രാജാക്കന്മാർ, സാദു-തപസ്വികൾ, പതിര്വ്രതസ്ത്രീകൾ—ഇവരെ ഒരിക്കലും നിന്ദിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• श्रुति: the Veda/scripture
• श्रुति: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular; object of ‘do not revile’)

• भूदेव: Brahmin (lit. earth-god)
• भूदेव: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular; ‘earth-god’=Brahmin)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• नृप: king
• नृप: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular; king)

• साधु: saint/good person
• साधु: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular; ‘good man/saint’)

• तपस्विनाम्: of ascetics
• तपस्विनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• पतिव्रतानाम्: of devoted wives
• पतिव्रतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति + व्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive Plural; ‘of husband-devoted women’)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• निन्दाम्: blame/slander
• निन्दाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• कुर्यात्: should do/utter
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• कर्हिचित्: ever/at any time
• कर्हिचित्: Adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्हिचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at any time/ever)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/residents in Kāśī; especially dvijas engaged in śruti and ritual life

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī restrains harsh speech in a debate near a temple; figures representing Veda (manuscripts), brāhmaṇas, devas (icons), a king, an ascetic, and a pativratā woman are shown as honored, not criticized.

Characters & Entities

• Śruti (Veda)
• Bhūdeva (Brāhmaṇas)
• Devas
• Nṛpa (king)
• Sādhus
• Tapasvins
• Pativratā women

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity of speech is dharma: slander of sacred authorities and virtuous people damages one’s merit and spiritual progress.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the implied sacred domain where guarding one’s speech is part of living in a tirtha-conscious way.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A conduct rule: do not engage in nindā of śruti, brāhmaṇas, devas, rulers, sādhus/tapasvins, or pativratā women.