Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 98

Devanagari script

व्यसनैरभिभूतस्य धनहीनस्य पापिनः । गंगैव केवलं तस्य गतिरुक्ता न चान्यथा

Transliteration

vyasanairabhibhūtasya dhanahīnasya pāpinaḥ | gaṃgaiva kevalaṃ tasya gatiruktā na cānyathā

Translation

جو مصیبتوں میں گھرا، مفلس اور گناہوں سے بوجھل ہو، اس کے لیے صرف گنگا ہی پناہ اور راہ کہی گئی ہے؛ اس کے سوا نہیں۔

Word by Word

• व्यसनैः: by misfortunes
• व्यसनैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अभिभूतस्य: of one who is overwhelmed
• अभिभूतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-भूत (भू धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विशेषणम्

• धनहीनस्य: of one lacking wealth
• धनहीनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्; समासः—धनेन हीनः/धन-हीनः (तत्पुरुष)

• पापिनः: of a sinner
• पापिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (Restriction/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (restrictive particle: ‘only’)

• केवलम्: solely
• केवलम्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: ‘solely/merely’)

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Generic), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• गतिः: refuge/way
• गतिः: Karta (Subject complement/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• उक्ता: is said (to be)
• उक्ता: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘गति’ इति विशेषणम् (predicate adjective: ‘is said’)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: ‘and’)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: ‘otherwise’)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Kāśī)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A destitute, grief-stricken pilgrim sits on ghat steps; as he turns to Gaṅgā with folded hands, the river’s light surrounds him, and symbols of misfortune (broken cart, empty bowl) fade into the background.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṅgā is portrayed as compassionate refuge for those lacking worldly support, emphasizing surrender and tīrtha-grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā-tīrtha, central to Kāśī’s salvific landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is stated; the teaching is devotional—take refuge in Gaṅgā.