Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

कौपीनमात्रं तस्यैव कितवस्य प्रदृश्यते । कराभ्यां स्वस्तिकं कृत्वा गंधमाल्यादिकं च यत्

Transliteration

kaupīnamātraṃ tasyaiva kitavasya pradṛśyate | karābhyāṃ svastikaṃ kṛtvā gaṃdhamālyādikaṃ ca yat

Translation

นักพนันผู้นั้นปรากฏว่าใส่เพียงผ้าคาดเอว (เกาปีน); เขาทำเครื่องหมายสวัสดิกะด้วยสองมือ และถือของที่มี—เครื่องหอม พวงมาลัย และสิ่งอื่นๆ

Word by Word

• कौपीनमात्रम्: only a loincloth
• कौपीनमात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौपीन + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (nom./acc.), एकवचनम् (singular)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (genitive), एकवचनम् (singular)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (only/indeed)

• कितवस्य: of the gambler/cheat
• कितवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कितव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (genitive), एकवचनम् (singular)

• प्रदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• प्रदृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense); उपसर्गः—प्र

• कराभ्याम्: with (both) hands
• कराभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (instrumental), द्विवचनम् (dual)

• स्वस्तिकम्: a svastika sign/gesture
• स्वस्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having done)

• गन्धमाल्यादिकम्: perfume, garlands, etc.
• गन्धमाल्यादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + माल्य + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम् (singular); ‘आदि’ समाहारसूचकः (etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (acc./nom.), एकवचनम् (singular); सम्बन्धसूचकं (relative)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), speaking to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A near-naked gambler in a simple kaupīna stands in a street or near a shrine approach, hands forming a svastika-like gesture, holding sandal paste, garlands, and perfumes—onlookers watch with mixed suspicion and curiosity.

Characters & Entities

• Svastika (auspicious sign)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic narratives often juxtapose outer “auspiciousness” with inner corruption to highlight the need for true transformation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting remains Kedārakhaṇḍa, connected to Kedāra’s Śaiva dharma teaching.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it describes an auspicious gesture (svastika) and items like fragrance and garlands.