Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्यमिदं चैषा करुणा भारतीत्वियम् । श्रुतिस्मृतीतिहासार्थ चरितार्था अमीजनाः

Transliteration

brahmacaryamidaṃ caiṣā karuṇā bhāratītviyam | śrutismṛtītihāsārtha caritārthā amījanāḥ

Translation

此即梵行（brahmacarya），此即慈悲；此诚为圣言——婆罗底（Bhāratī）。此诸人正是对《闻》（Śruti）、《忆》（Smṛti）与史传（Itihāsa）义旨的圆满成就。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: brahmacarya, celibate discipline
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karta (Subject/Predicate-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + चर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (predicate/subject sense)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• करुणा: compassion
• करुणा: Karta (Subject/Predicate-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भारतीत्वि: Bhāratī-ness / eloquence (as Sarasvatī)
• भारतीत्वि: Karta (Subject/Predicate-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारतीत्वि (प्रातिपदिक; भारती + त्वि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भाववाचक/तद्धितान्त (state of being Bhāratī)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुति: Vedic revelation
• श्रुति: Samasa-member
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• स्मृति: tradition (Smṛti)
• स्मृति: Samasa-member
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• इतिहास: itihāsa, epic history
• इतिहास: Samasa-member
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• अर्थ: meaning/purport
• अर्थ: Samasa-member
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• चरितार्थाः: fulfilled, having achieved the purpose
• चरितार्थाः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरितार्थ (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित—चरित + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (fulfilled in purpose)

• अमी: these (those)
• अमी: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (context continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (typical Naimiṣāraṇya audience)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene Kāśī setting where ascetics and compassionate householders appear as embodiments of Vedic meaning; sacred speech visualized as a luminous presence over disciplined devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Śruti
• Smṛti
• Itihāsa
• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is not merely textual; it becomes complete when lived—through discipline, compassion, and truthful sacred speech.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-khaṇḍa milieu implies Kāśī as a place where scriptural ideals are realized in exemplary lives.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is prescribed; the verse elevates ethical vows (brahmacarya) and compassion as core observances.