Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पंचत्वमेव हि वरं लोके लाघववर्ज्जितम् । नामरत्वमपि श्रेयो लाघवेन समन्वितम्

Transliteration

paṃcatvameva hi varaṃ loke lāghavavarjjitam | nāmaratvamapi śreyo lāghavena samanvitam

Translation

ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ ഹീനതയില്ലാത്ത മരണമേ യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ ശ്രേയസ്കരം; ഹീനതയോടുകൂടിയ ജീവിതത്തേക്കാൾ ‘നാമരഹിത അമരത്വം’ പോലും ഉത്തമം.

Word by Word

• पंचत्वम्: the state of becoming five elements (death)
• पंचत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंचत्व (प्रातिपदिक; पञ्च + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (त्व)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (causal/emphatic particle)

• वरम्: better/preferable
• वरम्: Karta-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• लाघववर्जितम्: devoid of lightness (i.e., without frivolity)
• लाघववर्जितम्: Karta-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाघव + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘वर्जित’ = excluded; तत्पुरुषः (लाघवस्य वर्जितम्)

• नामरत्यम्: delight in name/fame
• नामरत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामरत्य (प्रातिपदिक; नाम + रति + य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नि रतिः/नामसु रतिः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• श्रेयः: better/more beneficial
• श्रेयः: Karta-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनार्थ-विशेषण

• लाघवेन: with lightness/ease
• लाघवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• समन्वितम्: endowed/associated (with)
• समन्वितम्: Karta-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; उपसर्ग-सम्

Speaker

Skanda (contextual attribution continuing from Skanda uvāca)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative pilgrim in Kāśī stands near a ghat at dawn, rejecting a tempting but dishonorable offer; behind him the river flows steadily, symbolizing dignity beyond life and death.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma values dignity and steadfastness; survival at the cost of baseness is spiritually inferior to an honorable end.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is specified; the verse is a general dharmic maxim within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a value-statement about lāghava (moral lowness) and dharmic honor.