Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

नवैतानि गृहस्थस्य कार्याण्यभ्यागते सदा । सुधा व्ययानि यत्सौम्यं वाक्यं चक्षुर्मनोमुखम्

Transliteration

navaitāni gṛhasthasya kāryāṇyabhyāgate sadā | sudhā vyayāni yatsaumyaṃ vākyaṃ cakṣurmanomukham

Translation

Ces neuf actes doivent toujours être accomplis par le maître de maison lorsqu’un hôte arrive. Ce sont des « dépenses de nectar » : parole douce, et accueil bienveillant par les yeux, l’esprit et le visage.

Word by Word

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with एतानि) संख्याविशेषणम्

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• गृहस्थस्य: of a householder
• गृहस्थस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• कार्याणि: duties/tasks
• कार्याणि: Samjna/Predicate noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अभ्यागते: when a guest has arrived / in the case of a guest
• अभ्यागते: Adhikarana (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP used substantively), पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; अर्थः: अभ्यागतः (guest)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'always')

• सुधा: sweet speech/nectar-like (kindness)
• सुधा: Samjna/Item in list (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• व्ययानि: expenditures (for hospitality)
• व्ययानि: Samjna/Item in list (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (relative: 'that which')

• सौम्यम्: gentle/pleasant
• सौम्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (agreeing with वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Samjna/Item in list (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• चक्षुर्मनोमुखम्: (having) pleasing/controlled eyes, mind, and face
• चक्षुर्मनोमुखम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्षुस् + मनस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: चक्षुः मनः मुखं यस्य तत् (one whose eyes, mind, and face are [pleasant/controlled])

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A guest arrives at a Kāśī home; the host rises with folded hands, offers a seat and water, speaks gently; the host’s eyes and face radiate welcome. The ‘nine acts’ are suggested by small symbolic items (water pot, lamp, food, bedding) arranged neatly.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Hospitality begins with inner and outer sweetness—speech and demeanor are sacred offerings, not mere social niceties.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s dharmic culture is the backdrop; the verse focuses on atithi-dharma rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Reception of guests with saumya-vākya and a welcoming expression—part of the stated ‘nine duties’ (expanded in following verses).