Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

कुसुंभवासा दंडाढ्यो भिक्षाशी ख्यातिवर्जितः । अलाबुदारुमृद्वेणु पात्रं शस्तं न पंचमम्

Transliteration

kusuṃbhavāsā daṃḍāḍhyo bhikṣāśī khyātivarjitaḥ | alābudārumṛdveṇu pātraṃ śastaṃ na paṃcamam

Translation

Memakai pakaian yang diwarnai kusumbha (safflower), membawa tongkat, hidup dengan sedekah, dan menjauhi kemasyhuran. Mangkuk yang disarankan ialah daripada labu, kayu, tanah liat, atau buluh; jenis kelima tidak diperkenankan.

Word by Word

• कुसुम्भवासा: wearing kusumbha-colored cloth
• कुसुम्भवासा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुसुम्भ + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘having garment of kusumbha-dyed cloth’) (masc nom sg)

• दण्डाढ्यः: equipped with a staff
• दण्डाढ्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘provided with a staff’) (masc nom sg)

• भिक्षाशी: living on alms
• भिक्षाशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिक्षा + अशिन् (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘one who eats alms’) (masc nom sg)

• ख्यातिवर्जितः: free from desire for fame
• ख्यातिवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्याति + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम्; तृतीया/पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (‘devoid of fame’) (masc nom sg)

• अलाबु: gourd (vessel)
• अलाबु: Visheshya (Head-term/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाबु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (neuter nom/acc sg; gourd)

• दारु: wood
• दारु: Visheshya (Head-term/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (neuter nom/acc sg; wood)

• मृद्वेणु: soft bamboo
• मृद्वेणु: Visheshya (Head-term/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृदु + वेणु (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘soft bamboo’) (masc nom/acc sg)

• पात्रम्: a vessel/bowl
• पात्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative, singular)

• शस्तम्: recommended/approved
• शस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंस् (धातु) → शस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् (neuter nom sg; recommended)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• पञ्चमम्: a fifth (one)
• पञ्चमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg; ‘a fifth (type)’)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages/pilgrims in frame narrative

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A safflower-robed mendicant with staff receives alms, carrying a simple bowl made of gourd/wood/clay/bamboo; he turns away from admirers, avoiding fame.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Yati (ascetic)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Renunciation is safeguarded by simplicity: plain clothing, alms-living, and freedom from the pursuit of recognition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction occurs within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa framework, where Kāśī is depicted as a seat of disciplined dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Guidance on ascetic requisites: safflower cloth, staff, and approved materials for the alms-bowl (gourd/wood/clay/bamboo).