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Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशामादिमध्यावसानतः । भैक्ष्यचर्या क्रमेण स्याद्भवच्छब्दोपलक्षिता

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāmādimadhyāvasānataḥ | bhaikṣyacaryā krameṇa syādbhavacchabdopalakṣitā

For brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, the discipline of seeking alms should proceed in proper order, marked by respectful forms of address such as “bhavat” (“sir”).

ब्राह्मणof Brahmins
ब्राह्मण:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (विशाम् इत्यनेन सह समुच्चय)
क्षत्रियof Kshatriyas
क्षत्रिय:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
विशाम्of Vaishyas
विशाम्:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootविश् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
आदिat the beginning
आदि:
क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (indeclinable) — ‘आदौ/प्रारम्भे’ अर्थे
मध्यin the middle
मध्य:
अधिकरण/अवधि (locus/extent)
TypeNoun
Rootमध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (अर्थतः ‘मध्यतः’ भावः)
अवसानतःat the end
अवसानतः:
अवधि (limit/extent)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअवसान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपञ्चमी-तसिल् (ablatival adverb) — ‘अवसानतः’ (at the end/from the end)
भैक्ष्यचर्याthe practice of begging for alms
भैक्ष्यचर्या:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootभैक्ष्य-चर्या (प्रातिपदिक; भैक्ष्य + चर्या)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
क्रमेणin order, sequentially
क्रमेण:
क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial instrumental)
स्यात्should be
स्यात्:
क्रिया (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
भवत्of ‘bhavat’ (the word ‘bhavān/you’)
भवत्:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootभवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘भवतः’ इत्यर्थे (honorific ‘your’)
शब्दby the word
शब्द:
करण (Instrument/means)
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; (उपलक्षिता इत्यस्य करण)
उपलक्षिताindicated/characterized
उपलक्षिता:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootउप-लक्ष् (धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भैक्ष्यचर्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Scene: Three students representing brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, and vaiśya backgrounds perform bhikṣā rounds in sequence; each uses refined respectful address (‘bhavat’) at household doors; the scene emphasizes order and civility.

B
Brāhmaṇa
K
Kṣatriya
V
Vaiśya
B
Bhaikṣya-caryā
B
Bhavat (honorific address)

FAQs

Even humility has dharmic form—alms-seeking is regulated by order and respectful speech, training the student in restraint and courtesy.

No specific tīrtha is named; the teaching is part of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader dharma-setting.

Rules for bhaikṣā (begging for alms) according to proper sequence and respectful address (e.g., using ‘bhavat’).