Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 62

Devanagari script

स्पष्टां चेष्टां विलोक्येति हरिकेशस्य तत्पिता । अशिक्षयत्सुतं सोऽथ गृहकर्मरतो भव

Transliteration

spaṣṭāṃ ceṣṭāṃ vilokyeti harikeśasya tatpitā | aśikṣayatsutaṃ so'tha gṛhakarmarato bhava

Translation

पुत्र हरिकेशाची स्पष्ट चेष्टा पाहून त्याच्या पित्याने त्याला उपदेश केला— “गृहधर्माच्या कर्मांत रत हो.”

Word by Word

• स्पष्टाम्: clear, evident
• स्पष्टाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• चेष्टाम्: action, conduct, gesture
• चेष्टाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विलोक्य: having seen
• विलोक्य: Kriya (Verbal adjunct/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकाले कृतम् (having done)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• हरिकेशस्य: of Harikeśa
• हरिकेशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (demonstrative)

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अशिक्षयत्: taught, instructed
• अशिक्षयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense not marked here (simple past: taught/instructed)

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• गृहकर्मरतः: engaged in household work
• गृहकर्मरतः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह + कर्म + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषभावः (engaged in house-work)

• भव: become, be
• भव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (narrating to Agastya, context of Kāśīkhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A father, having observed his son Harikeśa’s behavior, gives calm instruction to embrace household duties; the setting suggests a prosperous home in sacred Kāśī, with subtle signs of ritual order.

Characters & Entities

• Harikeśa
• Harikeśa’s father
• Kāśī (implied Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma begins with disciplined conduct; one should honor rightful duties, including household responsibilities, before higher pursuits.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader frame is Kāśī in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, though this verse itself focuses on ethical instruction rather than naming a particular tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is prescribed; the instruction is ethical—steadfastness in gṛhastha (householder) duties.