Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

टिट्टिभं कलविंकं च हंसं चक्रं प्लवंबकम् । त्यजेन्मांसाशिनः सर्वान्सारसं कुक्कुटं शुकम्

Transliteration

ṭiṭṭibhaṃ kalaviṃkaṃ ca haṃsaṃ cakraṃ plavaṃbakam | tyajenmāṃsāśinaḥ sarvānsārasaṃ kukkuṭaṃ śukam

Translation

Hendaklah menghindari ṭiṭṭibha, kalaviṃka, haṃsa, cakra dan plavaṃbaka. Sesungguhnya, semua burung pemakan daging patut dijauhi—termasuk sārasa (burung jenjang), ayam jantan dan śuka (burung nuri).

Word by Word

• टिट्टिभम्: lapwing (ṭiṭṭibha)
• टिट्टिभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: टिट्टिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कलविङ्कम्: kalaviṅka (a bird)
• कलविङ्कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलविङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• हंसम्: goose/swan
• हंसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: cakra-bird (a waterfowl)
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (पक्षिनाम ‘चक्र’ इति)

• प्लवम्बकम्: plavambaka (a bird)
• प्लवम्बकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मांसाशिनः: meat-eaters
• मांसाशिनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिन् (कृदन्त; अश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (मांसम् अश्नन्ति ये) विशेषणम्

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मांसाशिनः)

• सारसम्: crane (sārasa)
• सारसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कुक्कुटम्: cock/rooster
• कुक्कुटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्कुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• शुकम्: parrot
• शुकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim/adhikārin

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Kāśī pilgrim releases or protects birds near the river, refusing meat offered by hunters; predatory birds are shown in the distance, while the pilgrim chooses compassion and purity before temple visit.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dietary purity is linked with non-violence and avoidance of creatures associated with impure feeding habits.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the implied sacred frame; the verse supports its dharmic lifestyle rather than naming a single tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prohibition list: avoid consuming certain birds, especially those characterized as flesh-eaters.