Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

अलोलुप उदारश्च सदाचारो जितेंद्रियः । अपि स्वल्पेन संतुष्टः प्रतिग्रहपराङ्मुखः

Transliteration

alolupa udāraśca sadācāro jiteṃdriyaḥ | api svalpena saṃtuṣṭaḥ pratigrahaparāṅmukhaḥ

Translation

അവൻ ലോഭരഹിതനും ഉദാരനും; സദാചാരത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരനും ഇന്ദ്രിയജയിയും; അല്പത്തിൽ പോലും സന്തുഷ്ടൻ, പ്രതിഗ്രഹം (ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കൽ) ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• अलोलुपः: not greedy
• अलोलुपः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negative compound)

• उदारः: generous, noble
• उदारः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सदाचारः: of good conduct
• सदाचारः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय ('good conduct')

• जितेन्द्रियः: sense-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि (जये) क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: 'having conquered the senses')

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: even/also)

• स्वल्पेन: with little (means)
• स्वल्पेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/हेतुवाचक (Instrumental: 'with/by little')

• संतुष्टः: content, satisfied
• संतुष्टः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + √तुष् (तुष्टौ) क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भावे (past participle: satisfied)

• प्रतिग्रहपराङ्मुखः: averse to accepting gifts
• प्रतिग्रहपराङ्मुखः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-भाव: 'turned away from accepting gifts')

Speaker

Kāśī narrative voice (Uttarārdha context; traditionally Skanda addressing Agastya in Kāśī-khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The brāhmaṇa is depicted refusing gifts with gentle firmness, remaining content with simple fare, radiating restraint and generosity in Kāśī’s sacred lanes.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True nobility is shown by self-control, contentment, and freedom from greed—virtues that protect spiritual integrity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is the overarching sacred setting; this verse emphasizes personal dharma rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; it highlights the discipline of avoiding covetousness and improper gift-taking (pratigraha).