Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

हितोपदेष्टा हितकृदहितात्यहितः सदा । रूपवाञ्छीलसंपन्नो गुणवान्देशकालवित्

Transliteration

hitopadeṣṭā hitakṛdahitātyahitaḥ sadā | rūpavāñchīlasaṃpanno guṇavāndeśakālavit

Translation

He taught what is beneficial, did what is beneficial, and was ever far removed from what is harmful. Handsome, endowed with good conduct, virtuous, and discerning of place and time, he stood as an exemplar.

Word by Word

• हितोपदेष्टा: one who gives beneficial instruction
• हितोपदेष्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित + उपदेष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; √दिश्/√दिश्-निर्देशे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-तृ (agent noun): ‘हितं उपदिशति’

• हितकृत्: doer of good
• हितकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय): ‘हितं करोति’

• अहित: harm
• अहित: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपद (in next compound)

• अत्यहितः: very harmful
• अत्यहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अत्यन्तम् अहितः’ (very harmful)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• रूपवान्: handsome, possessing form
• रूपवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive)

• शीलसंपन्नः: endowed with good character
• शीलसंपन्नः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील + संपन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √पद्/√पन् with सम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शीलेन संपन्नः’ (endowed with good conduct)

• गुणवान्: virtuous, possessing qualities
• गुणवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय

• देशकालवित्: knower of place and time
• देशकालवित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश + काल + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘देशं कालं च वेत्ति’ (knower of place and time)

Speaker

Śiva’s Gaṇas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (as dharma-practice field)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Āṅgirasa advising seekers: a small group seated respectfully; his posture calm, hand raised in instruction; visual emphasis on benevolence and discernment rather than austerity.

Characters & Entities

• Āṅgirasa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is practical: teach good, do good, avoid harm, and act with discernment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; the verse focuses on the dhārmic character that supports sacred-place narratives.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it emphasizes ethical discipline.