Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

अतिथेश्चापि सत्कारो मैत्रीतीर्थनिवासिभिः । आस्तिक्यबुद्धिर्विनयो मानामान समानधीः

Transliteration

atitheścāpi satkāro maitrītīrthanivāsibhiḥ | āstikyabuddhirvinayo mānāmāna samānadhīḥ

Translation

Honoring guests as well, cultivating friendship with those who dwell at the sacred tīrthas, holding an āstika (faithful) outlook, humility and courtesy, and an even mind amid honor and dishonor—these are praised virtues (in Kāśī).

Word by Word

• atitheḥ: of a guest
• atitheḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — ‘also’

• satkāraḥ: honouring; hospitality
• satkāraḥ: Karma (Object/Practice)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समुच्चित-विषयः

• maitrī-tīrtha-nivāsibhiḥ: with the residents of Maitrī-tīrtha
• maitrī-tīrtha-nivāsibhiḥ: Sahakari (Association/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitrī (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मैत्रीतीर्थे निवासिनः); सहकारि/सहयोगे

• āstikya-buddhiḥ: faithful mindset
• āstikya-buddhiḥ: Karma (Quality/Practice)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āstikya (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आस्तिक्या बुद्धिः = faithful disposition)

• vinayaḥ: humility; discipline
• vinayaḥ: Karma (Quality/Practice)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समुच्चित-विषयः

• māna-amāna: honour and dishonour
• māna-amāna: Karma (Object/Attitude)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक) + amāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘honour and dishonour’ as a pair

• samāna-dhīḥ: equal-mindedness
• samāna-dhīḥ: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अन्तर्भूत-‘matiḥ/buddhiḥ’ इत्यर्थे) — ‘equal-minded’

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (tīrtha-vāsa-ācāra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim household in Kāśī welcomes a traveling ascetic/guest with water and food; nearby, locals at a ghāṭa exchange friendly greetings; the central figure remains calm amid praise and slight insult, symbolizing mānāpamāna-samatā.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage is perfected by character: hospitality, humility, faith, and equanimity are integral to sacred living.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching context; the verse also references tīrtha-residents, highlighting the social dharma of holy places.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single ritual; it prescribes dhārmic conduct—honoring guests, befriending tīrtha residents, and practicing humility and equanimity.