Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

वेदानुवचनं ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मचर्य तपो दमः । श्रद्धोपवासः स्वातंत्र्यमात्मनोज्ञानहेतवः

Transliteration

vedānuvacanaṃ jñātvā brahmacarya tapo damaḥ | śraddhopavāsaḥ svātaṃtryamātmanojñānahetavaḥ

Translation

เมื่อรู้การสาธยายและการสั่งสอนพระเวท; พรหมจรรย์ ตบะ และการข่มใจ; การอดอาหารด้วยศรัทธา และความเป็นอิสระภายใน—สิ่งเหล่านี้เป็นเหตุให้เกิดญาณรู้ตน

Word by Word

• वेदानुवचनम्: recitation of the Vedas
• वेदानुवचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदानुवचन (प्रातिपदिक; वेद+अनुवचन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘वेदस्य अनुवचनम्’ (recitation of the Veda)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having known/understood’

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy (brahmacarya)
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन्+चर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक; उप+वास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वातन्त्र्यम्: independence/self-reliance
• स्वातन्त्र्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वातन्त्र्य (प्रातिपदिक; स्व+तन्त्र्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of the self
• आत्मनः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• ज्ञानहेतवः: causes of knowledge
• ज्ञानहेतवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानहेतु (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान+हेतु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘ज्ञानस्य हेतवः’

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined seeker in Kāśī: dawn Veda-recitation, midday restraint and service, evening meditation; symbols of fasting (simple meal), prayer beads, and a quiet inner radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Brahmacarya
• Tapas
• Dama
• Upavāsa
• Ātma-jñāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ātma-jñāna arises from disciplined practice: Vedic study, celibacy, austerity, restraint, faith, fasting, and inner freedom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the implied setting where such disciplines are especially lauded as direct supports for liberation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Upavāsa (fasting) and veda-anuvacana (Vedic recitation/learning) are explicitly mentioned, alongside brahmacarya, tapas, and dama.