Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55
अयमात्मा प्रियो बंधुरयमात्मा महद्धनम् । धमार्थकाममोक्षाणामयमात्मार्जकः परः
ayamātmā priyo baṃdhurayamātmā mahaddhanam | dhamārthakāmamokṣāṇāmayamātmārjakaḥ paraḥ
ഈ ആത്മാവാണ് പ്രിയബന്ധു; ഈ ആത്മാവാണ് മഹാധനം; ധർമ്മം, അർത്ഥം, കാമം, മോക്ഷം—ഇവയുടെ പരമസാധനം ഈ ആത്മാവുതന്നെ।
Pārāvatī (female pigeon) to her mate (pārāvata) within Skanda’s narration to Agastya
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame)
Scene: The pigeons appear small against a vast, serene sky; a symbolic inner light (jyoti) subtly surrounds the speaking bird, indicating the ‘self’ as treasure and means. The nest, wealth, and companions are shown as secondary, fading motifs.
FAQs
The self (life) is the indispensable instrument for pursuing the four puruṣārthas; safeguarding it supports both worldly duty and the path to mokṣa.
The verse is embedded in the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s celebration of Kāśī, where ethical teaching reinforces the higher goal of liberation associated with the sacred city.
None; it is a doctrinal statement about the puruṣārthas and the primacy of preserving life.