Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्यं दृढं कृत्वा तप उग्रं चचार ह । उत्तरार्कस्य देवस्य समीपे स्थिरमानसा

Transliteration

brahmacaryaṃ dṛḍhaṃ kṛtvā tapa ugraṃ cacāra ha | uttarārkasya devasya samīpe sthiramānasā

Translation

അവൾ ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം ദൃഢമായി സ്വീകരിച്ച് ഘോരതപസ്സു അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു; ഉത്തരാർകദേവന്റെ സമീപത്ത് സ്ഥിരമനസ്സോടെ നിലകൊണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy, brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; object of कृत्वा

• दृढम्: firm, steadfast
• दृढम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मचर्यम्)

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (चचार)

• उग्रम्: fierce, intense
• उग्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः)

• चचार: practised, performed
• चचार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘performed/practised’

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); emphasis/indeed

• उत्तरार्कस्य: of Uttarārka
• उत्तरार्कस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तरार्क (प्रातिपदिक: उत्तर + अर्क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of Uttarārka’

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; appositional genitive with उत्तरार्कस्य

• समीपे: near, in the vicinity
• समीपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; location

• स्थिरमानसा: with a steady mind
• स्थिरमानसा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिरमानस (प्रातिपदिक: स्थिर + मानस)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे/विशेषणम्—‘she whose mind is steady’ (subject understood)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Uttarārka

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A resolute ascetic woman stands or sits in unwavering posture near the Uttarārka deity, austere surroundings, minimal possessions, the shrine glowing softly as her tapas intensifies.

Characters & Entities

• Uttarārka
• Deva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady-minded austerity grounded in brahmacarya is portrayed as a powerful dharmic path that draws divine grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse highlights worship and austerity performed in Kāśī near the deity/locale associated with Uttarārka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A firm vow of brahmacarya and the undertaking of intense tapas (austerity) are emphasized.