Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

संततावभृथक्लिन्न मूर्धजः क्षितिषर्षभः । प्रजापालनसंपन्नः कोशप्रीणितभूसुरः

Transliteration

saṃtatāvabhṛthaklinna mūrdhajaḥ kṣitiṣarṣabhaḥ | prajāpālanasaṃpannaḥ kośaprīṇitabhūsuraḥ

Translation

Jener Stier unter den Königen, dessen Haar stets von rituellen Waschungen feucht war, war kundig im Schutz der Untertanen und hielt die Brahmanen durch die königliche Schatzkammer zufrieden.

Word by Word

• संतत: continuous, constant
• संतत: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन् (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; (समासाङ्ग)

• अवभृथ: ritual bath (avabhṛtha)
• अवभृथ: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवभृथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), (समासाङ्ग)

• क्लिन्न: wet, drenched
• क्लिन्न: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; (समासाङ्ग)

• संततावभृथक्लिन्न: drenched by continual ritual baths
• संततावभृथक्लिन्न: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतत + अवभृथ + क्लिन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संतत-अवभृथेन क्लिन्नः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूर्धजः: hair (born on the head)
• मूर्धजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मूर्ध्नः जातः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षितिषर्षभः: bull among kings, best on earth
• क्षितिषर्षभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिती + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समास (क्षितेः/क्षितौ ऋषभः = पृथिव्याः श्रेष्ठः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजापालनसंपन्नः: accomplished in protecting subjects
• प्रजापालनसंपन्नः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा + पालन + संपन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रजापालनेन संपन्नः/समृद्धः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कोशप्रीणितभूसुरः: he who pleased the Brahmins with treasury (gifts)
• कोशप्रीणितभूसुरः: Visheshana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश + प्रीणित + भूसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कोशेन प्रीणिताः भूसुराः येन); बहुव्रीह्यर्थे गुणवाचक-नाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Dvija in the story frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king after ceremonial ablution, hair still wet, wearing clean white garments; priests and brāhmaṇas receive gifts from the treasury; citizens appear protected and content.

Characters & Entities

• Bhūsura (Brāhmaṇas)
• Avabhṛtha (bath)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ideal kingship combines ritual purity, protection of subjects, and generous support of brāhmaṇas and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as the setting for a king devoted to yajña-culture and public welfare.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The avabhṛtha bath is referenced as part of sacrificial/ceremonial observance, indicating a yajña-aligned royal life.