Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रं पंचरात्राणि सांख्ययोगादयस्तथा । विष्णोराराधनं श्रेष्ठं मुक्तयेऽभिहितं किल

Transliteration

trirātraṃ paṃcarātrāṇi sāṃkhyayogādayastathā | viṣṇorārādhanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ muktaye'bhihitaṃ kila

Translation

ତ୍ରିରାତ୍ର, ପଞ୍ଚରାତ୍ର ବ୍ରତ ଓ ସାଂଖ୍ୟ‑ଯୋଗାଦି ସାଧନ କୁହାଯାଇଛି; ତଥାପି ମୋକ୍ଷ ପାଇଁ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ‑ଆରାଧନା ହିଁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଉପାୟ ବୋଲି ଘୋଷିତ।

Word by Word

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights (a three-night observance)
• त्रिरात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (त्रीणि रात्राणि)

• पञ्चरात्राणि: five nights (five-night observances)
• पञ्चरात्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः (पञ्च रात्राणि)

• सांख्ययोगादयः: Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and the like
• सांख्ययोगादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः/समाहारार्थः (सांख्यश्च योगश्च आदयश्च)

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक क्रियाविशेषणम् (likewise/also)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• आराधनम्: worship
• आराधनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु) → आराधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भाववाचक (action noun: worship)

• श्रेष्ठम्: best, supreme
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आराधनम् इति)

• मुक्तये: for liberation
• मुक्तये: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन

• अभिहितम्: has been stated/declared
• अभिहितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धा (धातु) → अभिहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘कथितम्/उक्तम्’

• किल: indeed, it is said
• किल: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (hearsay/emphasis: indeed, it is said)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic scene in Kāśī: a teacher enumerates austerities and yogic paths, then points to Viṣṇu’s worship as the highest liberator; background hints of ghats and temple spires.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Sāṅkhya
• Yoga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Among many disciplines and observances, devotion expressed as worship of Viṣṇu is praised as a foremost means to liberation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse occurs within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, where the broader teaching supports the mokṣa-oriented greatness of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Night-based observances (three-night and five-night vratas) are referenced, alongside devotional worship (ārādhana) of Viṣṇu.