Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

अपास्तभोगसंपर्का भोगिनां वृत्तिमाश्रिता । क्षुदुद्बोधनिरोधाय धूतपापा तपस्विनी

Transliteration

apāstabhogasaṃparkā bhogināṃ vṛttimāśritā | kṣududbodhanirodhāya dhūtapāpā tapasvinī

Translation

她断绝与诸欲之接触，依止苦行者的严峻行仪；修苦行的Dhūtapāpā甚至抑止饥饿的起动，只为成就内在的自制。

Word by Word

• अपास्तभोगसंपर्का: having cast off contact with pleasures
• अपास्तभोगसंपर्का: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपास्त (√अस्/√स्था + क्त, ‘अप-आ-स्त’/‘अपास्त’ कृदन्त) + भोग + संपर्क (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘भोगसंपर्कः अपास्तः यस्याः सा’ (sense close to बहुव्रीहि, but form used adjectivally)

• भोगिनाम्: of pleasure-seekers
• भोगिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• वृत्तिम्: conduct, mode of life
• वृत्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आश्रिता: having resorted to
• आश्रिता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्षुदुद्बोधनिरोधाय: for preventing the arousal of hunger
• क्षुदुद्बोधनिरोधाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत्/क्षुद् (भूख) + उद्बोधन + निरोध (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ चतुर्थी (dative of purpose)

• धूतपापा: with sins shaken off
• धूतपापा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूत (√धू + क्त) + पाप (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तपस्विनी: the female ascetic
• तपस्विनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative voice)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The tapasvinī Dhūtapāpā sits in deep austerity, body lean, eyes steady; a simple water pot and kusa mat nearby; the forest is quiet, suggesting hunger subdued and senses withdrawn.

Characters & Entities

• Dhūtapāpā
• hunger (kṣut)
• ascetic regimen (vṛtti)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification is strengthened by indriya-nigraha—rejecting pleasure and disciplining bodily urges like hunger.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s sacred environment is implicit; the verse highlights the sādhana (practice) rather than naming a tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An implicit vrata-like austerity is described: renunciation of pleasures and restraint of appetite.