Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

परोपकरणं येषां जागर्ति हृदये सताम् । नश्यंति विपदस्तेषां संपदः स्युः पदेपदे

Transliteration

paropakaraṇaṃ yeṣāṃ jāgarti hṛdaye satām | naśyaṃti vipadasteṣāṃ saṃpadaḥ syuḥ padepade

Translation

Bei den Edlen, in deren Herzen der Drang, anderen beizustehen, wach bleibt, vergehen die Widerwärtigkeiten, und bei jedem Schritt erwächst ihnen Gedeihen.

Word by Word

• परोपकरणम्: service to others
• परोपकरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकार/उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘परस्य उपकारः/उपकरणम्’ = helping others)

• येषाम्: of whom
• येषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी (Genitive); बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• जागर्ति: is awake/active
• जागर्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जागृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन; ‘सत्’ = good/virtuous persons

• नश्यन्ति: perish
• नश्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• विपदः: misfortunes
• विपदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी; बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सम्पदः: prosperities
• सम्पदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• स्युः: would be / may be
• स्युः: Kriya (Result/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पदे: at (each) step
• पदे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• पदे: at every step
• पदे: Adhikarana (Distributive location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for distributive sense)

Speaker

Pārāśarya (contextual continuation)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A noble person helps travelers and the needy; as they act, obstacles dissolve and auspicious signs appear at each step—flowers, light, and supportive community.

Characters & Entities

• Sat (the virtuous)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Paropakāra (benefiting others) is a protective dharma that dissolves adversity and attracts well-being.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single site is named; the verse supports Kāśī’s dharmic culture by praising compassionate conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A behavioral ‘rite’ is implied: consistent service and assistance to others.