Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

तपो यज्ञ व्रतेभ्यश्च सर्वस्माच्छुभकर्मणः । द्विजातीनां श्रुतिर्ह्येका हेतुर्निश्रेयस श्रियः

Transliteration

tapo yajña vratebhyaśca sarvasmācchubhakarmaṇaḥ | dvijātīnāṃ śrutirhyekā heturniśreyasa śriyaḥ

Translation

Higit pa sa tapas (pagpapakasakit), yajña (paghahandog), mga vrata (panata), at sa lahat ng iba pang mabubuting gawa, para sa mga dvijāti (dalawang-ulit na isinilang) ang iisang tunay na sanhi ng ningning ng pinakamataas na kabutihan ay ang Śruti—ang pahayag ng Veda.

Word by Word

• तपः: from austerity
• तपः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• यज्ञ: from sacrifice
• यज्ञ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (पदपाठे ‘यज्ञात्’ अपेक्षित; छन्दो/पाठभेदेन रूपलोपः)

• व्रतेभ्यः: from vows
• व्रतेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Discourse particle (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• सर्वस्मात्: from all
• सर्वस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• शुभकर्मणः: from auspicious deeds
• शुभकर्मणः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (शुभं कर्म)

• द्विजातीनाम्: of the twice-born
• द्विजातीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• श्रुतिः: scripture/Veda
• श्रुतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (for/indeed)

• एका: one (alone)
• एका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• हेतुः: the cause
• हेतुः: Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निश्रेयस: of the highest good (liberation)
• निश्रेयस: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःश्रेयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• श्रियः: of prosperity/glory
• श्रियः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda instructing Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Vedic teacher in Kāśī instructs students under a banyan near the river; manuscripts/palm-leaves, a small fire altar, and distant Viśvanātha spires symbolize Śruti as the source of highest good.

Characters & Entities

• Śruti
• Veda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Scriptural revelation (Śruti) is presented as the decisive foundation for ultimate welfare, guiding and validating austerities, sacrifices, and vows.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of Kāśīkhaṇḍa instruction; the emphasis is doctrinal (Śruti) rather than naming a distinct tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is prescribed; the verse prioritizes adherence to Śruti as the governing principle behind all ritual and ethical acts.