Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पत्युराज्ञां समासाद्य यच्छेच्छ्रेयः पतिव्रता । न तस्याः श्रेयसो हानिः संवर्तेपि कदाचन

Transliteration

patyurājñāṃ samāsādya yacchecchreyaḥ pativratā | na tasyāḥ śreyaso hāniḥ saṃvartepi kadācana

Translation

ପତିଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞା ପାଇ ପତିବ୍ରତା ଯାହା ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍କର ଭାବେ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରେ, ତାହା ଆଚରଣ କରିପାରେ; ତାହାର ପୁଣ୍ୟ କେବେ ହ୍ରାସ ପାଏ ନାହିଁ—ପ୍ରଳୟକାଳରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• पत्युः: of (her) husband
• पत्युः: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आज्ञाम्: command, order
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समासाद्य: having obtained/received
• समासाद्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) (having approached/obtained)

• यच्छेत्: should give
• यच्छेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रेयः: the good, welfare
• श्रेयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (फल/हितार्थे)

• पतिव्रता: a devoted wife (pativratā)
• पतिव्रता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• श्रेयसः: of (her) welfare/merit
• श्रेयसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• हानिः: loss
• हानिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• संवर्ते: even at dissolution (cosmic end)
• संवर्ते: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (प्रलयकाले)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/अप्यर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• कदाचन: Kriya-viseshana (Temporal adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at any time/ever)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa context typically Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Didactic moment: the principle of consent and pativratā-dharma is highlighted, with Gaurī as exemplar—calm, resolute, and dharmic—before proceeding to sacred action.

Characters & Entities

• Pativratā (devoted wife)
• Ājñā (permission)
• Saṃvarta (pralaya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is strengthened when spiritual striving aligns with rightful consent and duty; such merit becomes enduring.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the Kāśī narrative context, preparing for the glorification of a liṅga established in Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed; it establishes the dharmic principle of acting with proper authorization (ājñā).