Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

सुनीत्या राजसेवायै नियुक्तोऽलंकृतोर्भकः । ध्रुवो धात्रेयिकापुत्रैः समं विनयतत्परः

Transliteration

sunītyā rājasevāyai niyukto'laṃkṛtorbhakaḥ | dhruvo dhātreyikāputraiḥ samaṃ vinayatatparaḥ

Translation

सुनीति ने राजसेवा के लिए नियुक्त किया; अलंकृत बालक ध्रुव विनय में तत्पर होकर धात्रेयिका के पुत्रों के साथ मिलकर सेवा करता था।

Word by Word

• सुनीत्या: by Sunīti
• सुनीत्या: Karana (Agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृकरणभाव (instrumental: 'by Sunīti')

• राजसेवायै: for royal service
• राजसेवायै: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; 'राज्ञः सेवा' (service to the king)

• नियुक्तः: appointed
• नियुक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ध्रुवस्य विशेषणम्

• अलंकृतः: adorned
• अलंकृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम्-कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ध्रुवस्य विशेषणम्

• अर्भकः: boy, child
• अर्भकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ध्रुवः: Dhruva
• ध्रुवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धात्रेयिकापुत्रैः: with the sons of Dhātreyikā
• धात्रेयिकापुत्रैः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्रेयिका + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; 'धात्रेयिकायाः पुत्राः' (sons of Dhātreyikā)

• समम्: together
• समम्: Sahakari (Accompaniment marker/सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'together/equally')

• विनयतत्परः: devoted to good conduct
• विनयतत्परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'विनये तत्परः' (devoted to humility/discipline)

Speaker

Two gaṇas (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Their companion (frame listener)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Young Dhruva, adorned and appointed by Sunīti for royal service, behaves with exemplary humility, serving alongside other boys (sons of Dhātreyikā).

Characters & Entities

• Sunīti
• Dhruva
• Dhātreyikā (as referenced)
• royal service

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Vinaya (humility and disciplined conduct) is presented as a foundational dharma that prepares the soul for higher devotion and divine grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it is part of the Dhruva-carita within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes ethical formation through service and good conduct.