Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

ते दृष्ट्वोर्जस्वलं बालं स्वभाव मधुराकृतिम् । अनर्घ्यनयनेपथ्यं मृदुगंभीरभाषिणम्

Transliteration

te dṛṣṭvorjasvalaṃ bālaṃ svabhāva madhurākṛtim | anarghyanayanepathyaṃ mṛdugaṃbhīrabhāṣiṇam

Translation

Als sie das strahlende Kind sahen—von süßem Wesen und anmutiger Gestalt, unschätzbar für den Blick, mit sanfter und doch tiefgründiger Rede—wurden die Weisen von Bewunderung ergriffen.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• ऊर्जस्वलम्: vigorous, radiant
• ऊर्जस्वलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जस्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• बालम्: boy, child
• बालम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• स्वभाव: by nature (naturally)
• स्वभाव: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (पाठानुसारं; स्वभावम् अपेक्षितम्)

• मधुर: sweet
• मधुर: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद)

• आकृतिम्: form, appearance
• आकृतिम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मधुरा आकृतिः)

• अनर्घ्य: priceless, incomparable
• अनर्घ्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद)

• नयन: of the eyes
• नयन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन (समासे मध्यपद)

• एपथ्यम्: a delight/feast (for the eyes)
• एपथ्यम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एपथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नयनानाम् एपथ्यम्)

• मृदु: soft, gentle
• मृदु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद)

• गंभीर: deep, grave
• गंभीर: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गंभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (समासे मध्यपद)

• भाषिणम्: speaker (one who speaks)
• भाषिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाष् (धातु) → भाषिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun); कर्मधारयः (मृदु-गंभीर-भाषी)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sages behold Dhruva’s radiant presence—sweet-faced, priceless to see—speaking softly yet profoundly; their faces show wonder.

Characters & Entities

• sages
• Dhruva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual maturity is recognized by inner radiance (tejas), sweetness of character, and speech that is both gentle and deep.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse functions as narrative praise within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a descriptive verse establishing Dhruva’s spiritual qualities.