Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 182

Devanagari script

निष्पापः कलुषं त्यक्त्वा शुक्लांगः सितकंचुकः । शुद्ध्यर्थं साधुकामोऽसौ प्रयागे मुनिसत्तमः

Transliteration

niṣpāpaḥ kaluṣaṃ tyaktvā śuklāṃgaḥ sitakaṃcukaḥ | śuddhyarthaṃ sādhukāmo'sau prayāge munisattamaḥ

Translation

ആ മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ പാപരഹിതനായി, കലുഷം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, ശ്വേതാംഗനും ശ്വേതവസ്ത്രധാരിയും ആയി, ശുദ്ധിയും സദ്ഗതിയും ആഗ്രഹിച്ച് പ്രയാഗത്തിലേക്ക് വരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• निष्पापः: sinless
• निष्पापः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-पाप (प्रातिपदिक; निः + पाप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मुनिसत्तमः/असौ)

• कलुषम्: impurity, defilement
• कलुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• शुक्लाङ्गः: white-limbed, pure-bodied
• शुक्लाङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; शुक्ल + अङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सितकञ्चुकः: wearing a white garment
• सितकञ्चुकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित-कञ्चुक (प्रातिपदिक; सित + कञ्चुक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शुद्ध्यर्थम्: for purification
• शुद्ध्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शुद्धि-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; शुद्धि + अर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• साधुकामः: desiring virtue/goodness
• साधुकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु-काम (प्रातिपदिक; साधु + काम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘साधुं कामयते’ इति (desirous of good) विशेषणम्

• असौ: that (sage)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रयागे: at Prayāga
• प्रयागे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• मुनिसत्तमः: best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि + सत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मुनीनां सत्तमः’

Speaker

Brahmā (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prayāga (reference point)

Type: sangam

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant muni in white garments, serene and spotless, walks toward the confluence at Prayāga with a kamaṇḍalu, embodying śuddhi and sādhutva.

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage is framed as an outward sign of inner purification—casting off defilement and seeking śuddhi (purity) through dharmic intent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prayāga is referenced, within a larger praise of Gopratāra and Kārtika tīrtha-bathing.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse emphasizes purification-seeking conduct and the symbolism of purity (white attire), implying tīrtha observance.