Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

परस्परं कुशलिनौ कुशलौ च कथागमे । प्रश्नोत्तराभ्यां संतुष्टौ द्विजवर्य क्षमाभृतौ

Transliteration

parasparaṃ kuśalinau kuśalau ca kathāgame | praśnottarābhyāṃ saṃtuṣṭau dvijavarya kṣamābhṛtau

Translation

Ils s’enquirent l’un de l’autre de leur bien-être, et tous deux excellaient dans l’entretien courtois. Par questions et réponses ils furent comblés—ô brāhmaṇa éminent—tous deux porteurs de patience et de mansuétude.

Word by Word

• parasparam: mutually
• parasparam: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्ययीभूत (reciprocal adverb), ‘mutually’

• kuśalinau: both well/healthy
• kuśalinau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśalin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम् (of two persons)

• kuśalau: both well
• kuśalau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (reinforcing)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• kathā-āgame: in the course of conversation
• kathā-āgame: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘कथायाः आगमः’/‘कथायाम् आगमः’ = ‘course/coming of conversation’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• praśna-uttarābhyām: by questions and answers
• praśna-uttarābhyām: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: ‘questions and answers’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• saṃtuṣṭau: both satisfied
• saṃtuṣṭau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√tuṣ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘satisfied’

• dvija-varya: O best of brāhmaṇas
• dvija-varya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘श्रेष्ठः द्विजः’ = ‘best brāhmaṇa’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• kṣamā-bhṛtau: both patient/forbearing
• kṣamā-bhṛtau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣamā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘क्षमा भर्तारौ’ = ‘bearers of forbearance’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (of the two)

Speaker

Skanda (narrating to Agastya, Kāśīkhaṇḍa convention)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: King and brāhmaṇa sit facing each other in composed posture, exchanging gentle questions and answers; their faces show satisfaction and patience; the court atmosphere is quiet and respectful.

Characters & Entities

• Divodāsa
• brāhmaṇa (dvija)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through patience, courteous speech, and mutual respect.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī forms the sacred backdrop; this verse highlights virtues that make one fit for holy places.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual; it emphasizes sādhācāra—proper conduct in conversation.