Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

इत्थं विवेचयंश्चित्ते कृष्णः क्रोधनदीरयम् । विवेकसेतुनाऽस्तभ्य नारदं प्राहिणोत्सुधीः

Transliteration

itthaṃ vivecayaṃścitte kṛṣṇaḥ krodhanadīrayam | vivekasetunā'stabhya nāradaṃ prāhiṇotsudhīḥ

Translation

ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ, ਬੁੱਧਿਮਾਨ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਵਿਵੇਕ ਦੇ ਸੇਤੂ ਨਾਲ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਦੀ ਉਫਾਨਦੀ ਨਦੀ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਨਾਰਦ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਭੇਜ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• विवेचयन्: reflecting; considering
• विवेचयन्: Karta (Agent as participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + विच् (धातु) → विवेचयत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चित्ते: in (his) mind
• चित्ते: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रोधनदीरयम्: the torrent of anger
• क्रोधनदीरयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध + नदीरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्रोधस्य नदीरयः = 'the flood/stream of anger')

• विवेकसेतुना: by the dam/bridge of discernment
• विवेकसेतुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवेक + सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विवेकस्य सेतुः = 'bridge/dam of discernment')

• अस्तभ्य: having restrained
• अस्तभ्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), 'having restrained/checked'

• नारदम्: Nārada
• नारदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राहिणोत्: sent forth; dispatched
• प्राहिणोत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हि (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुधीः: the wise one
• सुधीः: Karta-visheshana (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (context within Kāśīkhaṇḍa; likely Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kṛṣṇa in contemplative posture, a turbulent river symbolizing anger before him; a luminous bridge labeled ‘viveka’ spans it; Nārada stands ready to depart on mission.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Nārada

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Anger is mastered by viveka; inner restraint precedes right action and right speech.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The chapter belongs to the Kāśī-khaṇḍa framework, but this verse highlights ethical psychology rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the ‘practice’ implied is mental discipline—checking krodha through discernment.