Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

श्वाविद्गोधे प्रशस्ते च ज्ञाताश्च मृगपक्षिणः । आयुष्कामैः स्वर्गकामैस्त्याज्यं मांसं प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

śvāvidgodhe praśaste ca jñātāśca mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | āyuṣkāmaiḥ svargakāmaistyājyaṃ māṃsaṃ prayatnataḥ

Translation

ശ്വാവിദ് (മുള്ളൻപന്നി)യും ഗോധ (ഗോഹ/ഇഗ്വാന)യും ചിലിടങ്ങളിൽ പ്രശസ്തമെന്നു പറയപ്പെടുകയും, പല മൃഗപക്ഷികളും ഭക്ഷ്യമെന്നു അറിയപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്താലും—ആയുസ്സും സ്വർഗ്ഗവും ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവർ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ മാംസം ഉപേക്ഷിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• श्वावित्: porcupine/hedgehog (śvāvit)
• श्वावित्: Karta (Listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वावित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सूच्य-गणना)

• गोधे: monitor-lizards (godhā)
• गोधे: Karta (Listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (गोधे = two monitor-lizards; list-item)

• प्रशस्ते: commended/approved
• प्रशस्ते: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शंस् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (गोधे इत्यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ज्ञाताः: are known/recognized
• ज्ञाताः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञात (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• मृगपक्षिणः: beasts and birds
• मृगपक्षिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगपक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मृग + पक्षिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (मृगाश्च पक्षिणश्च)

• आयुष्कामैः: by those desiring long life
• आयुष्कामैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुष्काम (प्रातिपदिक; आयुस् + काम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आयुषः कामः येषाम्)

• स्वर्गकामैः: by those desiring heaven
• स्वर्गकामैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गकाम (प्रातिपदिक; स्वर्ग + काम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य कामः येषाम्)

• त्याज्यम्: should be avoided
• त्याज्यम्: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्याज्य (प्रातिपदिक; √त्यज् ण्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be abandoned’)

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (object)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort; carefully
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्नतः (अव्यय; प्रयत्न)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative pilgrim in Kāśī watches animals and birds near the riverbank and chooses compassion; the scene contrasts a list of ‘known edible’ creatures with the pilgrim’s deliberate renunciation.

Characters & Entities

• Svarga (heaven)
• Kāśī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even where allowances exist, the higher aspirant—seeking longevity and heavenly merit—is advised to abstain from meat.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśīkhaṇḍa context implies Kāśī’s sacred discipline; the verse reinforces merit-oriented living rather than naming a single tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A normative counsel: renounce meat with deliberate effort if aiming for āyuḥ (long life) and svarga.