Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

नेपालकंबलेनाथ मृदाचाऽथ विशुद्धया । ताम्रसंपुटके कृत्वा मातुरंगान्यहो वणिक्

Transliteration

nepālakaṃbalenātha mṛdācā'tha viśuddhayā | tāmrasaṃpuṭake kṛtvā māturaṃgānyaho vaṇik

Translation

ต่อมาเขาใช้ผ้าห่มขนสัตว์จากเนปาลและดินที่ชำระแล้ว แล้วบรรจุอวัยวะอันเป็นอัฐิของมารดาลงในหีบทองแดง—โอ้ พ่อค้าเอ๋ย

Word by Word

• नेपालकम्बलेन: with a Nepal-blanket
• नेपालकम्बलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेपाल-कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नेपालदेशीयः कम्बलः)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरनुक्रम (then)

• विशुद्धया: with purified (one)
• विशुद्धया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् मृदा-शब्दस्य (with purified [clay])

• ताम्रसंपुटके: in a copper casket/container
• ताम्रसंपुटके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र-संपुटक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ताम्रस्य संपुटकः)

• कृत्वा: having put (it)
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having placed/made)

• मातुः: of (his) mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts (of the body)
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अहो: ah!, alas!/oh!
• अहो: Exclamation (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मयादिबोधक-निपात (exclamation)

• वणिक्: O merchant
• वणिक्: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वणिज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/उद्गारानन्तरं (vocative-like address possible)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (goal)

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dhanaṃjaya prepares a copper casket; he lines/encases the relic bundle with purified clay and a Nepal wool blanket, then seals it carefully for travel; the scene highlights humble yet meticulous care.

Characters & Entities

• Nepāla-kaṃbala
• Tāmra-saṃpuṭa (copper casket)
• Vaṇik (merchant)
• Mother (mātṛ)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Careful, respectful handling of the departed is dharma; even ordinary householders (like a merchant) can perform sacred duty with devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the Gaṅgā-directed sacred journey found in the surrounding narrative; Kāśī remains the broader textual setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Covering with a blanket, applying purified clay, and placing the remains in a copper container.