Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अभिवादनशीलस्य वृद्धसेवारतस्य च । आयुर्यशोबलं बुद्धिर्वर्धतेऽहरहोधिकम्

Transliteration

abhivādanaśīlasya vṛddhasevāratasya ca | āyuryaśobalaṃ buddhirvardhate'harahodhikam

Translation

Bei dem, der sich in ehrerbietigen Grüßen übt und dem Dienst an den Älteren hingegeben ist, wachsen Lebensdauer, Ansehen, Kraft und Einsicht von Tag zu Tag.

Word by Word

• अभिवादनशीलस्य: of one who is habitually respectful (in greeting)
• अभिवादनशीलस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिवादन-शील (प्रातिपदिक; अभिवादन + शील)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘शील’ (स्वभाव) युक्तः

• वृद्धसेवारतस्य: of one devoted to serving elders
• वृद्धसेवारतस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध-सेवा-रत (प्रातिपदिक; वृद्ध + सेवा + रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण—वृद्धानां सेवायां रतः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यशः: fame
• यशः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वर्धते: increases
• वर्धते: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अहरहः: day by day
• अहरहः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहर्-अहः (अव्यय; पुनरुक्त-समास)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अधिकम्: more, increasingly
• अधिकम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial use)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A young brahmacārin bows with folded hands to an aged teacher/elder in a Kāśī courtyard; behind, Gaṅgā ghāṭa silhouettes and a distant Viśvanātha śikhara suggest the sacred city.

Characters & Entities

• Abhivādana
• Vṛddha-sevā
• Āyuḥ
• Yaśas
• Bala
• Buddhi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility and service to elders are not merely social virtues; they generate tangible dharmic fruits—vitality, reputation, strength, and wisdom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse does not name a site; it is a universal dharma teaching situated within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s sacred culture of conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The practice of abhivādana (formal respectful salutation) and vṛddha-sevā (service to elders).