Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

प्रभुकार्यमनिष्पाद्य सदः संभावनैधितः । कः पुरः शक्नुयात्स्थातुं स्वामिनो क्षतविग्रहः

Transliteration

prabhukāryamaniṣpādya sadaḥ saṃbhāvanaidhitaḥ | kaḥ puraḥ śaknuyātsthātuṃ svāmino kṣatavigrahaḥ

Translation

ప్రభువు కార్యాన్ని నెరవేర్చలేకపోయినా ఎల్లప్పుడూ స్వీయగర్వంతో ఉబ్బిపోయినవాడు—అపకీర్తి చెందిన దేహంతో ఉన్న ఆ సేవకుడు స్వామి సమక్షంలో ఎలా నిలబడగలడు?

Word by Word

• प्रभुकार्यम्: the master’s task
• प्रभुकार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (prabhoḥ kāryam)

• अनिष्पाद्य: without accomplishing
• अनिष्पाद्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन् + निष् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) नकार-प्रत्ययार्थे; ‘अकृत्वा/असम्पाद्य’ (without accomplishing)

• सदाḥ: always
• सदाḥ: Avyaya (Modifier/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक (always)

• संभावनैधितः: swollen with self-importance (from honor)
• संभावनैधितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संभावना + एधित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘संभावनया एधितः’ (increased by honor/esteem)

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• पुरः: in front (of)
• पुरः: Desha-adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुरतः-अर्थे (in front)

• शक्नुयात्: could be able
• शक्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg. opt.)

• स्थातुम्: to stand; to remain
• स्थातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive)

• स्वामिनः: of the master
• स्वामिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• क्षतविग्रहः: one with a wounded body
• क्षतविग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (क्षतः विग्रहः यस्य/क्षत-विग्रहः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages (typical)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dejected attendant-figure (symbolic of the yoginīs’ predicament) stands with lowered head before an unseen throne or linga-shrine, while shadowy companions whisper; the city’s sacred architecture looms, emphasizing moral exposure.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Yoginīs
• Prabhu (Lord/Master)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pride without duty fulfilled is disgrace; dharma demands humility and responsibility before one claims honor.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly Kāśī, as the narrative setting where dharmic order and right conduct are emphasized.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is an ethical reflection within the story.