Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

सुनीत्या राजसेवायै नियुक्तोऽलंकृतोर्भकः । ध्रुवो धात्रेयिकापुत्रैः समं विनयतत्परः

Transliteration

sunītyā rājasevāyai niyukto'laṃkṛtorbhakaḥ | dhruvo dhātreyikāputraiḥ samaṃ vinayatatparaḥ

Translation

Appointed by Sunīti to serve in the royal household, the ornamented young boy Dhruva—devoted to proper conduct—served together with the sons of Dhātreyikā.

Word by Word

• सुनीत्या: by Sunīti
• सुनीत्या: Karana (Agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृकरणभाव (instrumental: 'by Sunīti')

• राजसेवायै: for royal service
• राजसेवायै: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; 'राज्ञः सेवा' (service to the king)

• नियुक्तः: appointed
• नियुक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ध्रुवस्य विशेषणम्

• अलंकृतः: adorned
• अलंकृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम्-कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ध्रुवस्य विशेषणम्

• अर्भकः: boy, child
• अर्भकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ध्रुवः: Dhruva
• ध्रुवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धात्रेयिकापुत्रैः: with the sons of Dhātreyikā
• धात्रेयिकापुत्रैः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्रेयिका + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; 'धात्रेयिकायाः पुत्राः' (sons of Dhātreyikā)

• समम्: together
• समम्: Sahakari (Accompaniment marker/सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'together/equally')

• विनयतत्परः: devoted to good conduct
• विनयतत्परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'विनये तत्परः' (devoted to humility/discipline)

Speaker

Two gaṇas (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Their companion (frame listener)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Young Dhruva, adorned and appointed by Sunīti for royal service, behaves with exemplary humility, serving alongside other boys (sons of Dhātreyikā).

Characters & Entities

• Sunīti
• Dhruva
• Dhātreyikā (as referenced)
• royal service

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Vinaya (humility and disciplined conduct) is presented as a foundational dharma that prepares the soul for higher devotion and divine grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it is part of the Dhruva-carita within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes ethical formation through service and good conduct.