Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तावद्धैर्यंचलाक्षीणां तावच्चेतोविवेकिता । यावन्नार्थी विविक्तस्थो विविक्तेर्थिनि नान्यथा

Transliteration

tāvaddhairyaṃcalākṣīṇāṃ tāvaccetovivekitā | yāvannārthī viviktastho vivikterthini nānyathā

Translation

ചഞ്ചലനയനികളുടെ ധൈര്യവും മനസ്സിന്റെ വിവേകശക്തിയും അത്രകാലം മാത്രമേ നിലനിൽക്കൂ—പ്രലോഭകൻ ഏകാന്തത്തിലല്ലാത്തിടത്തോളം; ഏകാന്തം തേടുന്ന സ്ത്രീയോടൊപ്പം ഏകാന്തമായാൽ പിന്നെ അങ്ങനെ അല്ല।

Word by Word

• तावत्: so long; only up to that extent
• तावत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (so long/that much)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness/courage
• धैर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• चलाक्षीणाम्: of the fickle-eyed women
• चलाक्षीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चल + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• तावत्: so long; only up to that extent
• तावत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय

• चेतोविवेकिता: mental discernment
• चेतोविवेकिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् + विवेकिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चेतसः विवेकिता = 'discernment of mind')

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (as long as)

• न: not
• न: Kriya-visheshana (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अर्थी: a suitor; one who desires (wealth/goal)
• अर्थी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विविक्तस्थः: being in a secluded place
• विविक्तस्थः: Karta-visheshana (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्त + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (विविक्ते स्थः = 'standing/being in solitude')

• विविक्ते: in seclusion; in a lonely place
• विविक्ते: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग usage), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• अर्थिनि: when the suitor is (there)
• अर्थिनि: Adhikarana (Location/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Kriya-visheshana (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: otherwise)

Speaker

Narrator (context within Kāśīkhaṇḍa; likely Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical depiction: a ‘bridge’ of discernment threatened by a flood of desire; or a near-private meeting scene where the mind’s lamp of discrimination flickers.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Viveka collapses under unchecked temptation; dharma therefore emphasizes restraint, boundaries, and mindful association.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting is within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa (Kāśī/Vārāṇasī), but this verse functions as general moral instruction rather than tīrtha-praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it implicitly supports brahmacarya-like discipline and careful conduct.