Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

परं शतं न किंशैला इलाकलनकेलयः । इह संति सतां मान्या मान्यास्ते तु स्वभूमिषु

Transliteration

paraṃ śataṃ na kiṃśailā ilākalanakelayaḥ | iha saṃti satāṃ mānyā mānyāste tu svabhūmiṣu

Translation

நூறு மட்டுமன்று; பல பெயர்-வேறுபாடுகளுடன் பல மலைகள் உள்ளன. இங்கு சத்புருஷர்கள் பலவற்றை மதிக்கின்றனர்; ஆனால் ஒவ்வொன்றும் தன் தன் நாட்டிலே சிறப்பாகப் போற்றப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• परम्: higher; more; exceeding
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (adjectival use)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• किंशैलाः: Kiṃśaila mountains (a class/name of mountains)
• किंशैलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंशैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• इलाकलनकेलयः: Ilākalana-keli mountains (proper name/group)
• इलाकलनकेलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इलाकलनकेलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सन्ति: are; exist
• सन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous
• सताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• मान्याः: honourable; respected
• मान्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• मान्याः: honourable
• मान्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• स्वभूमिषु: in their own lands
• स्वभूमिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य भूमिः)

Speaker

Vindhya

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic ‘map’ of Bhārata’s famed mountains, each with its own emblem, while the narrator hints that their honor is bounded by their own regions.

Characters & Entities

• Mountains
• Vindhya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Respect is contextual: many places are venerable, but their glory is understood within their rightful sphere—avoiding needless rivalry.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named; the verse expresses a mahātmya-style principle of regional sanctity that later supports Kāśī’s unsurpassed status.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.