Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

जलौकयोपमीयंते प्रमदा मंदबुद्धिभिः । मृगीदृशां जलौकानां विचारान्महदतंरम्

Transliteration

jalaukayopamīyaṃte pramadā maṃdabuddhibhiḥ | mṛgīdṛśāṃ jalaukānāṃ vicārānmahadataṃram

Translation

کم عقل لوگ عورتوں کو جونک سے تشبیہ دیتے ہیں؛ لیکن غور کرنے پر ہرنی جیسی آنکھوں والی عورتوں اور جونکوں میں بہت فرق ہے۔

Word by Word

• जलौकया: by/with a leech
• जलौकया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलौका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उपमीयन्ते: are compared
• उपमीयन्ते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√मा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'are compared'

• प्रमदाः: women
• प्रमदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• मन्दबुद्धिभिः: by dull-witted (people)
• मन्दबुद्धिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (मन्दा बुद्धिः येषाम्)

• मृगीदृशाम्: of doe-eyed (women)
• मृगीदृशाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगी + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृग्याः इव दृशः)

• जलौकानाम्: of leeches
• जलौकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलौका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• विचारात्: from consideration/analysis
• विचारात्: Apadana (Source/Reason/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्तरम्: difference
• अन्तरम्: Karma (Object/Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśī Khaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A small assembly of householders and pilgrims; a wise elder gestures to restrain harsh talk, while a thought-bubble-like contrast shows a leech vs. a compassionate woman, emphasizing the ‘great difference’ discovered by reflection.

Characters & Entities

• Pramadā (women)
• Jalauka (leech)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Avoid shallow, cynical comparisons; apply discernment (vicāra) before judging human relationships.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a nīti-style exhortation toward thoughtful reflection.