Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

अपवादो न वक्तव्यः कलहं दूरतस्त्यजेत् । गुरूणां सन्निधौ क्वापि नोच्चैर्ब्रूयान्न वा हसेत्

Transliteration

apavādo na vaktavyaḥ kalahaṃ dūratastyajet | gurūṇāṃ sannidhau kvāpi noccairbrūyānna vā haset

Translation

ଅପବାଦ କହିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ, କଳହକୁ ଦୂରରୁ ହିଁ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍। ଗୁରୁଜନଙ୍କ ସନ୍ନିଧିରେ କେଉଁଠି ମଧ୍ୟ ଉଚ୍ଚ ସ୍ୱରେ କହିବା ନୁହେଁ, ନା ଉଚ୍ଚହାସ କରିବା।

Word by Word

• apavādaḥ: slander, reproach
• apavādaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apavāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• vaktavyaḥ: should be spoken
• vaktavyaḥ: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• kalaham: quarrel
• kalaham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• dūratas: from afar, at a distance
• dūratas: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūratas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place/distance)

• tyajet: should abandon
• tyajet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• gurūṇām: of the elders/teachers
• gurūṇām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• sannidhau: in the presence
• sannidhau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• kvāpi: anywhere
• kvāpi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: 'anywhere')

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• uccaiḥ: loudly
• uccaiḥ: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• brūyāt: should speak
• brūyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• na: nor/not
• na: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• haset: should laugh
• haset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: has (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim woman in Kāśī stands modestly with folded hands near a guru/elder in an āśrama courtyard by the Gaṅgā, speaking softly while others refrain from quarrel; the atmosphere is disciplined and serene.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It promotes purity of speech, avoidance of conflict, and reverence in the presence of gurus/elders.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified; the verse functions as dharma-guidance within Kāśīkhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual; it prescribes social and verbal decorum, especially before gurus.