Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

सपर्ययंति मुदिता भृत्याः स्वामिपदांबुजम् । हीनवर्णैरग्रवर्णो वर्ण्यते गुणगौरवैः

Transliteration

saparyayaṃti muditā bhṛtyāḥ svāmipadāṃbujam | hīnavarṇairagravarṇo varṇyate guṇagauravaiḥ

Translation

Freudig verehren die Diener die Lotosfüße ihres Herrn. Selbst die Niedrigerstehenden preisen den Höheren, wegen der Schwere und Größe seiner Tugenden.

Word by Word

• saparyayanti: they serve/honor
• saparyayanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√paryā (धातु) / √paryā (धातु) with saṃ-; denominative sense 'to serve/honor'
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• muditāḥ: glad, delighted
• muditāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudita (प्रातिपदिक) < √mud (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying bhṛtyāḥ)

• bhṛtyāḥ: servants
• bhṛtyāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• svāmi-padāmbujam: the lotus-feet of the master
• svāmi-padāmbujam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• hīna-varṇaiḥ: by inferior classes/people of lower status
• hīna-varṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• agra-varṇaḥ: the foremost class/person of highest status
• agra-varṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• varṇyate: is described/celebrated
• varṇyate: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √varṇ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• guṇa-gauravaiḥ: by virtues and dignity/weightiness
• guṇa-gauravaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A master seated near a temple courtyard; attendants offer water, flowers, and fan him; their faces are joyful, not fearful. Nearby, common folk praise a virtuous leader/elder, shown by respectful gestures and calm order.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True honor is grounded in guṇa (virtue) and right conduct, expressed through willing service and respect.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s greatness is reflected in a society where people value virtue and duty, not mere disorderly power.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual; it highlights sevā (reverent service) as a dharmic practice.