Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

देवत्वं माययाच्छाद्य वेषं कार्पटिकोचितम् । विधाय काशीमविशद्योगिनीचक्रमक्रमम्

Transliteration

devatvaṃ māyayācchādya veṣaṃ kārpaṭikocitam | vidhāya kāśīmaviśadyoginīcakramakramam

Translation

เหล่าโยคินีปกปิดความเป็นทิพย์ด้วยมายา สวมอาภรณ์ปลอมตนดังนักบวชจาริก แล้วเข้าสู่กาศีอย่างแนบเนียน มิให้ผู้ใดสังเกต

Word by Word

• देवत्वम्: divinity
• देवत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• मायया: by illusion/magic
• मायया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्

• आच्छाद्य: having covered/hidden
• आच्छाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Absolutive/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + छद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त) → आच्छाद्य
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्तः (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्षः); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having covered)

• वेषम्: guise/dress
• वेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• कार्पटिक: of a beggar/rogue (kārpaṭika)
• कार्पटिक: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्पटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वे)

• उचितम्: suitable/appropriate
• उचितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √वच्/√उच् in usage)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• विधाय: having arranged/assumed
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (Absolutive/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + धा (धातु) + क्त्वा → विधाय
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः; पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having done/arranged)

• काशीम्: Kāśī
• काशीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• अविशद्: entered
• अविशद्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकारः (Aorist/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• योगिनी: of a yoginī
• योगिनी: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वे)

• चक्रम्: circle/group
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• अक्रमम्: without order/irregular
• अक्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Skanda (continuing narration)

Characters & Entities

• Yoginīs
• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• Māyā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True holiness may move hidden; humility and anonymity can accompany the highest spiritual power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is central—the city worthy of entry even by divine Yoginīs, whether openly or in disguise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite; the verse mentions veṣa (ascetic/mendicant disguise), implying renunciant conduct rather than a specific ritual.