Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

दक्षिणार्थं गुरोर्द्धीमान्पावितुं तं नरेश्वरम् । चतुर्दशसुवर्णानां कोटीराहर सत्वरम्

Transliteration

dakṣiṇārthaṃ gurorddhīmānpāvituṃ taṃ nareśvaram | caturdaśasuvarṇānāṃ koṭīrāhara satvaram

Translation

Um die Dakṣiṇā für seinen Guru zu erlangen, brachte jener Weise—der den König läutern wollte—eilends vierzehn Koṭis an Gold herbei.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणार्थम्: for the sake of the fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणायाः अर्थः)

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• धीमान्: the wise one
• धीमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पावितुम्: to purify
• पावितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु) (पवित्रे) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक; ‘पावयितुम्’ = to purify

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नरेश्वरम्: the lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• चतुर्दशसुवर्णानाम्: of fourteen gold (pieces)
• चतुर्दशसुवर्णानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दश + सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चतुर्दश सुवर्णानि)

• कोटीः: crores
• कोटीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आहर: bring
• आहर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु) (हरणे)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सत्वरम्: quickly
• सत्वरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Agastya (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kautsa, resolute, carries or arranges vast heaps of gold coins—symbolic abundance—moving swiftly toward the king; attendants or yakṣa-like treasurers may be implied; the scale (fourteen crores) is shown through overflowing vessels and stacked ingots.

Characters & Entities

• Kautsa
• Viśvāmitra (implied as guru)
• Raghu (king implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Wealth becomes holy when directed toward dharma—especially in service of the guru and sacred obligations.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā’s narrative context continues; its fame is tied to kings who become purified through dharmic giving.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The practice of dakṣiṇā—offering a substantial fee/gift to the guru in fulfillment of sacred duty—is central.