Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

धनैस्तस्याजनेतापि युवभिः प्रार्थितो बहु । नाशकत्तां सुलीलां सदातुं शीलोर्जितश्रियम्

Transliteration

dhanaistasyājanetāpi yuvabhiḥ prārthito bahu | nāśakattāṃ sulīlāṃ sadātuṃ śīlorjitaśriyam

Translation

Even her father, though entreated again and again by young men offering wealth, could not give that graceful maiden away—for her radiance was born of character and virtue.

Word by Word

• धनैः: with wealth, by riches
• धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अजनेता: a man of good birth/noble lineage
• अजनेता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-जन (प्रातिपदिक) + एता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष = ‘अजन’ (not low-born) + ‘एता’ (goer/one) → ‘अजनेता’ (of good birth); कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• युवभिः: by young men
• युवभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रार्थितः: (he was) sought/requested
• प्रार्थितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अर्थ् (धातु) → प्रार्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) = requested/sought

• बहु: much, greatly
• बहु: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = much/often

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अशकत्: was not able
• अशकत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुलीलाम्: graceful, charming
• सुलीलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स: he
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) = to give

• शीलोर्जितश्रियम्: whose splendour was heightened by virtue
• शीलोर्जितश्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्जित (कृदन्त; √ऊर्ज्/√वृध् अर्थे) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शील-ऊर्जित’ (by character enhanced) + ‘श्री’ (splendour) → षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण (acc. sg.)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, typically Skanda addressing Agastya)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (traditional frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Young men present wealth and gifts to Suśīlā’s father; the father appears conflicted yet resolute; Suśīlā’s quiet presence radiates dignity beyond ornaments.

Characters & Entities

• Suśīlā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma values character above wealth; social decisions (like marriage) are not to be ruled by money alone.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, but this verse itself does not name a particular tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it highlights dharmic discernment and virtue.