Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80

Devanagari script

कृतांतरायो न पठेद्भेकाखु श्वाहि बभ्रुभिः । भूताष्टम्योः पंचदश्योर्ब्रह्मचारी सदा भवेत्

Transliteration

kṛtāṃtarāyo na paṭhedbhekākhu śvāhi babhrubhiḥ | bhūtāṣṭamyoḥ paṃcadaśyorbrahmacārī sadā bhavet

Translation

ବିଘ୍ନ ହେଲେ ବେଙ୍ଗ, ମୂଷା, କୁକୁର, ସର୍ପ ଓ ନକୁଳ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପାଠ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ଭୂତା ଓ ଅଷ୍ଟମୀ ତିଥିରେ, ଏବଂ ପଞ୍ଚଦଶୀ ଦିନରେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚାରୀ ସଦା ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚର୍ୟରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ରହିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• कृतान्तरायः: (one) having an impediment/obstruction (present)
• कृतान्तरायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अन्तराय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘कृत-अन्तराय’ = ‘with obstruction/impediment made/occurred’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• पठेत्: should read/recite
• पठेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भेकाखु: (when) frog and mouse (are present)
• भेकाखु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेक + आखु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समाहारः = भेकः च आखुः च (collective)

• श्वाहि: (when) dog and snake (are present)
• श्वाहि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् + अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समाहारः = श्वा च अहिः च (dog and snake)

• बभ्रुभिः: by/with mongooses (or brown animals)
• बभ्रुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बभ्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• भूताष्टम्योः: of Bhūtāṣṭamī (and ...)
• भूताष्टम्योः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; ‘भूत-अष्टमी’ (the 8th tithi called Bhūtāṣṭamī)

• पञ्चदश्योः: of the two fifteenth (tithis)
• पञ्चदश्योः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A student in a courtyard/near a ghat steps back from recitation as small creatures appear (frogs near water, mice, a dog, a snake, an ichneumon), symbolizing impurity and distraction; he adopts a vow-like posture of restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Brahmacarya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity of setting and disciplined conduct (brahmacarya) safeguard the power and sanctity of sacred recitation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The dharma-code is taught within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa framework, aimed at those practicing spirituality in Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avoid recitation under impure/disruptive conditions and observe brahmacarya especially on specified lunar days.