Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

धीरः पुण्येतिहासज्ञः सर्वदृक्सर्वसंमतः । कलाकलापकुशलो ज्योतिःशास्त्रविदुत्तमः

Transliteration

dhīraḥ puṇyetihāsajñaḥ sarvadṛksarvasaṃmataḥ | kalākalāpakuśalo jyotiḥśāstraviduttamaḥ

Translation

Ferme et sage ; instruit des récits sacrés ; clairvoyant et approuvé de tous ; habile dans l’ensemble des arts, et le plus éminent parmi les connaisseurs de la science du jyotiṣa (astronomie/astrologie).

Word by Word

• धीरः: steadfast, wise
• धीरः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुण्येतिहासज्ञः: knower of sacred histories
• पुण्येतिहासज्ञः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ('knower of sacred/virtuous histories')

• सर्वदृक्: all-seeing
• सर्वदृक्: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक; दृष्-धातुजन्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ('all-seeing')

• सर्वसंमतः: approved by all
• सर्वसंमतः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संमत (कृदन्त; सम् + √मन्/√मन्? (सम्मतौ) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ('approved by all')

• कलाकलापकुशलः: skilled in many arts
• कलाकलापकुशलः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक) + कलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ('skilled in collections of arts')

• ज्योतिःशास्त्रविदुत्तमः: excellent expert in astrology/astronomy (jyotiḥśāstra)
• ज्योतिःशास्त्रविदुत्तमः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्योतिष् (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ('best knower of jyotiḥśāstra')

Speaker

Kāśī narrative voice (Uttarārdha context; traditionally Skanda addressing Agastya in Kāśī-khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A learned brāhmaṇa-scholar is shown with manuscripts and astronomical instruments, surrounded by students; Kāśī’s temples and ghats frame a scene of sacred learning.

Characters & Entities

• Jyotiḥśāstra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Learning becomes dharmic when joined to steadiness, clarity of vision, and social trust—knowledge is meant to serve righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-khaṇḍa context implies Kāśī as the sacred setting; no specific tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse lists accomplishments and virtues, including expertise in jyotiḥśāstra.