Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

कृत्वा श्राद्धं विधानेन ज्येष्ठस्थाने नरोत्तमः । ज्येष्ठां तृप्तिं ददात्येव पितृभ्यो मधुसर्पिषा

Transliteration

kṛtvā śrāddhaṃ vidhānena jyeṣṭhasthāne narottamaḥ | jyeṣṭhāṃ tṛptiṃ dadātyeva pitṛbhyo madhusarpiṣā

Translation

The best of men, having performed śrāddha according to rule at Jyeṣṭhasthāna, truly grants the ancestors “supreme satisfaction”—as though offering them honey and ghee.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed method
• विधानेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठस्थाने: in the Jyeṣṭha-place
• ज्येष्ठस्थाने: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ + स्थान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्येष्ठस्य स्थानम्)

• नरोत्तमः: the best of men
• नरोत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (उत्तमो नरः)

• ज्येष्ठाम्: great/elder (f.)
• ज्येष्ठाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction/contentment
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• पितृभ्यः: to the ancestors
• पितृभ्यः: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मधुसर्पिषा: with honey and ghee
• मधुसर्पिषा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (मधु च सर्पिः च)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśī-khaṇḍa context, Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Jyeṣṭhasthāna

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dignified householder performs śrāddha at Jyeṣṭhasthāna: kusa grass, piṇḍas on leaf plates, water libations, a brāhmaṇa receiving offerings; faint ancestral figures in the background appear soothed, symbolized by honey and ghee vessels.

Characters & Entities

• Jyeṣṭhasthāna
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Śrāddha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma toward ancestors is elevated when performed in a sanctified geography; place enhances the fruit of rite.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Jyeṣṭhasthāna in Kāśī, as a powerful location for śrāddha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform śrāddha there in accordance with proper ritual procedure (vidhi).