Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

गणावूचतुः । असौ वैद्याधरो लोको नाना विद्या विशारदाः । एते विद्यार्थिनामन्नमुपानद्वस्त्रकंबलम्

Transliteration

gaṇāvūcatuḥ | asau vaidyādharo loko nānā vidyā viśāradāḥ | ete vidyārthināmannamupānadvastrakaṃbalam

Translation

Les Gaṇas dirent : «Voici le monde des Vidyādharas, experts en maints savoirs. Ils donnent aux étudiants nourriture, chaussures, vêtements et couvertures.»

Word by Word

• गणौ: the two attendants (gaṇas)
• गणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (masc. nom. du.)

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd du. perfect)

• असौ: that (place/world)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.); सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• वैद्याधरः: Vaidyādhara
• वैद्याधरः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidya + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vaidya-धारणः/vaidya-सम्बन्धी)

• लोकः: world/realm
• लोकः: Karta (Subject complement/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/विशेषण)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थे (indeclinable used adjectivally: various)

• विद्याः: sciences/knowledges
• विद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (fem. nom. pl.)

• विशारदाः: skilled/adept
• विशारदाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masc. nom. pl.); विशेषण (qualifying implied persons)

• एते: these (people)
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masc. nom. pl.); सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• विद्यार्थिनाम्: of students/learners
• विद्यार्थिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (masc. gen. pl.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विद्यायाः अर्थी)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• उपानत्: footwear
• उपानत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upānat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.); ‘पादत्राण’ (shoe/sandal)

• वस्त्र: clothing
• वस्त्र: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• कम्बलम्: blanket
• कम्बलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kambala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc. sg.)

Speaker

Gaṇas (Śiva’s attendants)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vidyādhara-loka (as described in Kāśīkhaṇḍa episode)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śivaśarmā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṇas point out a radiant settlement of Vidyādharas—scholarly beings distributing food and necessities to students gathered respectfully with manuscripts and begging bowls.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇas
• Vidyādhara-loka
• Vidyārthins (students)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Supporting education through service and charity is portrayed as a hallmark of a refined, dharmic community.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A “Vidyādhara-loka” (realm of Vidyādharas) is described as part of the sacred journey context, rather than a named earthly tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna to students: providing food, footwear, clothing, and blankets.