Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

जपनीयं प्रयन्नेन मौनिना वाचकं विना । शुचिस्थानेषु शुचिना सुस्पष्टाक्षरमेव च

Transliteration

japanīyaṃ prayannena mauninā vācakaṃ vinā | śucisthāneṣu śucinā suspaṣṭākṣarameva ca

Translation

ଏହାକୁ ପ୍ରୟତ୍ନପୂର୍ବକ ଜପ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍—ମୌନରେ, ବାଚକ (ବୃତ୍ତିଗତ ପାଠକ) ବିନା; ଶୁଚି ଜନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଶୁଚି ସ୍ଥାନରେ, ଏବଂ ଅକ୍ଷରଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଉଚ୍ଚାରଣ ସହ।

Word by Word

• जपनीयम्: should be recited
• जपनीयम्: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) + अनीय (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अनीय-प्रत्ययान्त कृत्य (gerundive: ‘to be recited’)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मौनिना: by a silent (person)
• मौनिना: कर्ता (Agent in instrumental usage)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by one observing silence’

• वाचकम्: a reciter/speaker
• वाचकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: अपादान (Separation/Exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्ययम्/उपपद (preposition-like indeclinable: ‘without’; governs accusative)

• शुचिस्थानेषु: in pure places
• शुचिस्थानेषु: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; शुचि + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘शुचीनि स्थानानि’)

• शुचिना: by one who is pure
• शुचिना: करण/कर्ता (Means/Agent nuance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of the reciter)

• सुस्पष्टाक्षरम्: with very clear syllables
• सुस्पष्टाक्षरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-स्पष्ट-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; सु + स्पष्ट + अक्षर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘सुस्पष्टानि अक्षराणि यस्य/यत्र’)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā-sahasranāma-japa (Kāśī practice)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages / practitioners seeking correct method

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A solitary practitioner seated on a clean mat, eyes lowered, lips barely moving (silent japa), a mālā in hand; the setting is spotless—washed stone steps, a small lamp, and the Gaṅgā nearby; no crowd, no hired chanter.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā Sahasranāma (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity, sincerity, and disciplined recitation are essential for the full spiritual efficacy of sacred japa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā (context: her Sahasranāma), within Kāśī-khaṇḍa’s tīrtha-centered practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa-vidhi: recite silently/with restraint, without hiring a reciter, in a clean place, while maintaining purity and clear syllables.