Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

इष्टापूर्ताश्च ये धर्माः प्रणीता मुनिसत्तमैः । ते सर्वे तेन विहिता यावज्जीवं निरेनसा

Transliteration

iṣṭāpūrtāśca ye dharmāḥ praṇītā munisattamaiḥ | te sarve tena vihitā yāvajjīvaṃ nirenasā

Translation

بہترین رشیوں نے جو اِشٹ اور پورت کے دھرم بتائے ہیں—وہ سب اسی کے ذریعے عمر بھر بےگناہی کے ساتھ پورے ہو جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• iṣṭāpūrtāḥ: (rites) iṣṭa and pūrta
• iṣṭāpūrtāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (yaj धातु/इष्ट-प्रातिपदिक) + pūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्व-समासः (iṣṭāś ca pūrtāś ca)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• ye: which
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• dharmāḥ: duties/meritorious acts
• dharmāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• praṇītāḥ: prescribed/propounded
• praṇītāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra+ṇī (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• munisattamaiḥ: by the best of sages
• munisattamaiḥ: Karana (Agent-Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (munīnām sattamaiḥ)

• te: those
• te: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• sarve: all
• sarve: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• vihitāḥ: ordained/established
• vihitāḥ: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi+dhā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• yāvat-jīvam: as long as life lasts
• yāvat-jīvam: Adhikarana (Extent/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय) + jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय (adverbial)

• nirenasā: sinlessly/without fault
• nirenasā: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-enas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त (nir+enas = sinless)

Speaker

Śiva (continuing the praise of Kāśī-liṅga darśana/worship)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī/Avimukta (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sage interlocutor (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A composite tableau: a devotee performs simple liṅga-arcana while nearby others dig a well, distribute food, and light lamps—symbolizing iṣṭa and pūrta unified by Kāśī’s grace; a calm, orderly sacred city backdrop.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Munis
• Iṣṭāpūrta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī-centered devotion is portrayed as a comprehensive fulfillment of classical dharmic merits (iṣṭa and pūrta).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī implicitly, as the context is the merit arising from its liṅgas and their sanctifying power.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is commanded; the verse frames prior Kāśī-liṅga engagement as equivalent to completing iṣṭāpūrta obligations.