Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

संबंधानाचरेन्नित्यमुत्तमैरुत्तमैः सुधीः । अधमानधमांस्त्यक्त्वा कुलमुत्कर्षतां नयेत्

Transliteration

saṃbaṃdhānācarennityamuttamairuttamaiḥ sudhīḥ | adhamānadhamāṃstyaktvā kulamutkarṣatāṃ nayet

Translation

ବିବେକୀ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ସଦା ଉତ୍ତମମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଉତ୍ତମଙ୍କ ସହ ସଙ୍ଗତି କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ଅଧମ ଓ ଅତ୍ୟଧମଙ୍କୁ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରି କୁଳକୁ ଉତ୍କର୍ଷ ପଥେ ନେବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• सम्बन्धान्: associations, relations
• सम्बन्धान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आचरेत्: should practice/maintain
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative) — always

• उत्तमैः: with the best (people)
• उत्तमैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उत्तमैः: with excellent (ones)
• उत्तमैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; (उत्तमैः जनैः) इति

• सुधीः: a wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अधमान्: the low (people)
• अधमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अधमान्: the base (ones)
• अधमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — having abandoned

• कुलम्: family, lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्कर्षताम्: to excellence; uplifted state
• उत्कर्षताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्कर्षता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular (भाववाचक)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A discerning pilgrim-sage at a Kāśī ghāṭ chooses to sit among learned brāhmaṇas reciting Veda while turning away from gamblers and quarrelers; behind him, a family tree motif blossoms upward as ‘kula-utkarṣa’.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Character and destiny are shaped by company; noble association strengthens dharma and uplifts one’s household.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the textual setting; the verse supports the idea that a pilgrim should seek sādhus and righteous communities in the kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; it prescribes ethical social discipline—seeking good company and avoiding degrading associations.