Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

माल्पकेतोर्महीजानेरिति वाक्यं निशम्य सा । प्राह गंभीरया वाचा वचश्चारु कलावती

Transliteration

mālpaketormahījāneriti vākyaṃ niśamya sā | prāha gaṃbhīrayā vācā vacaścāru kalāvatī

Translation

Entendant ces paroles de Mālpaketu, roi du pays, Kalāvatī—au langage gracieux—répondit d’une voix grave et posée.

Word by Word

• mālpaketoḥ: of Mālpaketu
• mālpaketoḥ: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālpaketu (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• mahījāneḥ: of Mahījāna
• mahījāneḥ: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahījāna (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• vākyam: statement, words
• vākyam: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriya-viseshana (prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√śam (कृदन्त; धातु: śam)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘श्रुत्वा’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (subject)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• gaṃbhīrayā: with deep (tone)
• gaṃbhīrayā: Karana (instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṃbhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vācā: with speech/voice
• vācā: Karana (instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• āru: pleasant, charming
• āru: Visheshana (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (vacaḥ-विशेषण)

• kalāvatī: Kalāvatī
• kalāvatī: Karta (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalāvatī (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (third-person within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kalāvatī, poised and dignified, turns slightly toward the king; her expression is calm, voice implied as deep and steady; attendants and court remain still, anticipating counsel.

Characters & Entities

• Mālpaketu
• Kalāvatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharmic teachings are often delivered through calm, weighty speech—preparing the listener for instruction on life’s aims.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The immediate verse is transitional; the passage culminates in praise connected to Kāśī/Viśvanātha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it introduces Kalāvatī’s forthcoming counsel.