Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

गृहीतार्घ्यंकिल श्रांतं पादसंवाहनादिभिः । गतश्रममथालोक्य बभाषे ऽवनतो गिरिः

Transliteration

gṛhītārghyaṃkila śrāṃtaṃ pādasaṃvāhanādibhiḥ | gataśramamathālokya babhāṣe 'vanato giriḥ

Translation

After he had accepted the arghya, the weary one was refreshed by services such as the massaging of his feet. Seeing his fatigue gone, the mountain—bowed in reverence—spoke.

Word by Word

• गृहीतार्घ्यम्: (one) who has accepted the arghya (offering)
• गृहीतार्घ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) + तत्पुरुष-समास (गृहीतम् अर्घ्यम्)

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थे—खलु/इति प्रसिद्धौ

• श्रान्तम्: tired
• श्रान्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (श्रम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (tired)

• पादसंवाहनादिभिः: by foot-massage and other services
• पादसंवाहनादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाहन (सम्+वह् धातु, ल्युट्/घञ्-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पादस्य संवाहनम्) + ‘आदि’ समाहार (…and the like)

• गतश्रमम्: (him) whose fatigue had gone
• गतश्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (गतः श्रमो यस्य) = ‘whose fatigue has gone’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), अर्थः—दृष्ट्वा/अवलोक्य; क्रियाविशेषणभाव

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अवनतः: bowed
• अवनतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवनत (अव+नम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (bowed down)

• गिरिः: the mountain (Giri)
• गिरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Giri/Śaila (mountain personified, as host)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (traditional frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A weary sage is welcomed; arghya is offered; attendants massage his feet; a personified mountain bows low, preparing to speak once the sage’s fatigue has eased.

Characters & Entities

• Arghya
• Pāda-saṃvāhana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Service (sevā)—not merely words—removes a guest’s hardship and is a key expression of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The larger Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting glorifies Kāśī; this verse depicts the ideal conduct cultivated in such a sacred sphere.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

After arghya, one should offer practical hospitality such as pāda-saṃvāhana (massaging the feet) and related services.