Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अभिवादनशीलस्य वृद्धसेवारतस्य च । आयुर्यशोबलं बुद्धिर्वर्धतेऽहरहोधिकम्

Transliteration

abhivādanaśīlasya vṛddhasevāratasya ca | āyuryaśobalaṃ buddhirvardhate'harahodhikam

Translation

For one devoted to respectful salutations and intent on serving elders, lifespan, good repute, strength, and understanding increase more and more each day.

Word by Word

• अभिवादनशीलस्य: of one who is habitually respectful (in greeting)
• अभिवादनशीलस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिवादन-शील (प्रातिपदिक; अभिवादन + शील)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘शील’ (स्वभाव) युक्तः

• वृद्धसेवारतस्य: of one devoted to serving elders
• वृद्धसेवारतस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध-सेवा-रत (प्रातिपदिक; वृद्ध + सेवा + रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण—वृद्धानां सेवायां रतः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यशः: fame
• यशः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वर्धते: increases
• वर्धते: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अहरहः: day by day
• अहरहः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहर्-अहः (अव्यय; पुनरुक्त-समास)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अधिकम्: more, increasingly
• अधिकम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial use)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A young brahmacārin bows with folded hands to an aged teacher/elder in a Kāśī courtyard; behind, Gaṅgā ghāṭa silhouettes and a distant Viśvanātha śikhara suggest the sacred city.

Characters & Entities

• Abhivādana
• Vṛddha-sevā
• Āyuḥ
• Yaśas
• Bala
• Buddhi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility and service to elders are not merely social virtues; they generate tangible dharmic fruits—vitality, reputation, strength, and wisdom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse does not name a site; it is a universal dharma teaching situated within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s sacred culture of conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The practice of abhivādana (formal respectful salutation) and vṛddha-sevā (service to elders).