Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 74

Devanagari script

विष्णोर्वाममवाशंभोर्ब्राह्मणा एव सुप्रियाः । तेषां मूर्त्या वयं साक्षाद्विचरामो महीतले

Transliteration

viṣṇorvāmamavāśaṃbhorbrāhmaṇā eva supriyāḥ | teṣāṃ mūrtyā vayaṃ sākṣādvicarāmo mahītale

Translation

Für Viṣṇu wie für Śambhu sind die Brāhmaṇas die Allerliebsten; indem wir ihre eigene Gestalt annehmen, wandeln wir selbst sichtbar auf Erden.

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Gen., Sg.)

• वामम्: the left (side)
• वामम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neut., Nom./Acc., Sg.)

• अव: (particle)
• अव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-निपात/पादपूरक (particle; here likely metrical filler)

• आशम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• आशम्भोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Gen., Sg.)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: only/indeed)

• सुप्रियाः: very dear
• सुप्रियाः: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Gen., Pl.)

• मूर्त्या: in the form (as embodiment)
• मूर्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Fem., Instr., Sg.)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nom., Pl.)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थ/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: directly, in person)

• विचरामः: we move about
• विचरामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन (we roam)

• महीतले: on the surface of the earth
• महीतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महेः तलम्) (Neut., Loc., Sg.)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/householders in Kāśī discourse

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A procession of dignified Brāhmaṇas walks through Kāśī; subtle overlays of Viṣṇu and Śiva forms suggest divine presence within them; townspeople offer respectful hospitality.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Honoring Brāhmaṇas is framed as honoring living embodiments through whom divine presence operates in the world.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse supports the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s dharma-ethos within the sacred city’s spiritual culture.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite; it prescribes reverence and service to Brāhmaṇas as a foundational dharmic practice.