Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33
प्रोक्तोसावुपकुर्वाणो द्वितीयस्तत्र नैष्ठिकः । तिष्ठेत्तावद्गुरुकुले यावत्स्यादायुषः क्षयः
proktosāvupakurvāṇo dvitīyastatra naiṣṭhikaḥ | tiṣṭhettāvadgurukule yāvatsyādāyuṣaḥ kṣayaḥ
Demikianlah dihuraikan ‘upakurvāṇa’ (pelajar yang menyempurnakan pengajian lalu kembali). Adapun jenis kedua ialah ‘naiṣṭhika’—hendaklah dia menetap di rumah guru sepanjang hayat, hingga tamat usia.
Skanda
Scene: A serene gurukula courtyard: a naiṣṭhika brahmacārī seated near the guru, holding a staff, with palm-leaf manuscripts and a sacred fire in the background; the student’s posture conveys lifelong resolve.
FAQs
Dharma offers distinct paths: one may complete study and serve society, or embrace lifelong discipline in service of sacred learning.
Within Kāśī’s puranic context, the verse reflects Kāśī as a seat of enduring gurukula tradition and spiritual discipline.
It prescribes the lifelong residence of the naiṣṭhika brahmacārī in the guru’s household until death.