Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

विधाय वार्षिकीं यात्रां चतुर्थीं प्राप्य तापसीम् । शुक्लां शुक्लतिलैर्बद्ध्वा प्राश्नीयाल्लड्डुकान्व्रती

Transliteration

vidhāya vārṣikīṃ yātrāṃ caturthīṃ prāpya tāpasīm | śuklāṃ śuklatilairbaddhvā prāśnīyāllaḍḍukānvratī

Translation

വാർഷിക യാത്ര നിർവഹിച്ചു, ശുക്ലപക്ഷത്തിലെ തപസ്സിനിയായ ചതുര്ഥി വന്നാൽ, വ്രതസ്ഥൻ വെളുത്ത എള്ളുകൊണ്ട് കെട്ടിയ ലഡ്ഡുക്കൾ തയ്യാറാക്കി വിധിപ്രകാരം അവ പ്രാശനം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• विधाय: having performed/arranged
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/ल्यप्-क्त्वा), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• वार्षिकीम्: annual
• वार्षिकीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्षिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यात्राम्)

• यात्राम्: pilgrimage/procession
• यात्राम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चतुर्थीम्: the fourth lunar day
• चतुर्थीम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘चतुर्थी (तिथि)’

• प्राप्य: having reached/obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• तापसीम्: austere/ascetic (observance)
• तापसीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तापसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चतुर्थीम्)

• शुक्लाम्: bright (fortnight)
• शुक्लाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चतुर्थीम्/तिथिम्)

• शुक्ल-तिलैः: with white sesame seeds
• शुक्ल-तिलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• बद्ध्वा: having bound/tied
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• प्राश्नीयात्: should eat
• प्राश्नीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; विधि (injunction)

• लड्डुकान्: sweet balls (laddus)
• लड्डुकान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लड्डुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• व्रती: the vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

Speaker

Skanda (ritual procedure) in the Kāśī-khaṇḍa Skanda-to-Agastya frame

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (annual yātrā) with Dhūṇḍhirāja Caturthī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Primary interlocutor of Kāśī-khaṇḍa discourse

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim-votary completes an annual Kāśī yātrā and, on the bright Caturthī, prepares white-sesame-bound laddus; the sweets are arranged on a leaf/metal plate before a Gaṇeśa shrine, then partaken reverently at the vow’s conclusion.

Characters & Entities

• Vārṣikī yātrā (annual pilgrimage)
• Caturthī
• Śukla (bright fortnight)
• Śukla-tila (white sesame)
• Laḍḍuka
• Dhūṇḍhirāja worship context (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage joined to disciplined vow-observance sanctifies food and life, turning devotion into lived practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s annual yātrā tradition in connection with Dhūṇḍhirāja Gaṇeśa worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform the annual yātrā; on bright Caturthī, prepare and consume laddus made with white sesame as part of the vrata.