Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

नेपालकंबलेनाथ मृदाचाऽथ विशुद्धया । ताम्रसंपुटके कृत्वा मातुरंगान्यहो वणिक्

Transliteration

nepālakaṃbalenātha mṛdācā'tha viśuddhayā | tāmrasaṃpuṭake kṛtvā māturaṃgānyaho vaṇik

Translation

پھر نیپالی کمبل سے اور پاک مٹی سے بھی؛ اس نے ماں کے اعضا کے باقیات کو تانبے کے صندوقچے میں رکھ دیا—ہائے، وہ وڻک!

Word by Word

• नेपालकम्बलेन: with a Nepal-blanket
• नेपालकम्बलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेपाल-कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नेपालदेशीयः कम्बलः)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरनुक्रम (then)

• विशुद्धया: with purified (one)
• विशुद्धया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् मृदा-शब्दस्य (with purified [clay])

• ताम्रसंपुटके: in a copper casket/container
• ताम्रसंपुटके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र-संपुटक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ताम्रस्य संपुटकः)

• कृत्वा: having put (it)
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having placed/made)

• मातुः: of (his) mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts (of the body)
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अहो: ah!, alas!/oh!
• अहो: Exclamation (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मयादिबोधक-निपात (exclamation)

• वणिक्: O merchant
• वणिक्: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वणिज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/उद्गारानन्तरं (vocative-like address possible)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (goal)

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dhanaṃjaya prepares a copper casket; he lines/encases the relic bundle with purified clay and a Nepal wool blanket, then seals it carefully for travel; the scene highlights humble yet meticulous care.

Characters & Entities

• Nepāla-kaṃbala
• Tāmra-saṃpuṭa (copper casket)
• Vaṇik (merchant)
• Mother (mātṛ)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Careful, respectful handling of the departed is dharma; even ordinary householders (like a merchant) can perform sacred duty with devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the Gaṅgā-directed sacred journey found in the surrounding narrative; Kāśī remains the broader textual setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Covering with a blanket, applying purified clay, and placing the remains in a copper container.