Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

पुरुपार्थं समालंब्य ये यतंते महाधियः । विधिरेव हि साहाय्यं कुर्यात्तत्सत्त्वचोदितः

Transliteration

purupārthaṃ samālaṃbya ye yataṃte mahādhiyaḥ | vidhireva hi sāhāyyaṃ kuryāttatsattvacoditaḥ

Translation

جو بلند فہم لوگ انسانی کوشش کو سہارا بنا کر جدوجہد کرتے ہیں، اُن کی اسی جرأتِ سَتّو سے تحریک پا کر تقدیر خود اُن کی مددگار بن جاتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• पुरुपार्थम्: a great purpose/goal
• पुरुपार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरु + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘बहु-प्रयोजनम्/महानर्थम्’

• समालम्ब्य: having taken support of
• समालम्ब्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having resorted to/taken support of’

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• यतन्ते: strive, make effort
• यतन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महाधियः: great-minded, intelligent
• महाधियः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘great-intellect’

• विधिः: fate/ordinance; proper means
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Niyamaka (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed/only)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• साहाय्यम्: help, assistance
• साहाय्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/provide
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सत्त्वस्य विशेषणम् (that)

• सत्त्वचोदितः: impelled by courage
• सत्त्वचोदितः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + चोदित (प्रातिपदिक; √चुद् ‘to impel’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘सत्त्वेन चोदितः’ (impelled by courage)

Speaker

Śyena (hawk) (within continuing speech)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An allegorical moment: a determined bird (or pilgrim-figure) stands firm while an unseen ‘Providence’ presence—light, halo, or Śiva’s subtle emblem—appears as supportive force.

Characters & Entities

• Vidhi (providence/fate)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma honors effort (puruṣārtha): when one strives with courage, even fate (vidhi) turns supportive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is mentioned; the verse is ethical-philosophical within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.