Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

अग्निशुश्रूषणरतः पंचयज्ञपरायणः । षट्कर्मनिरतो नित्यं देवपित्रतिथिप्रियः

Transliteration

agniśuśrūṣaṇarataḥ paṃcayajñaparāyaṇaḥ | ṣaṭkarmanirato nityaṃ devapitratithipriyaḥ

Translation

അവൻ അഗ്നിശുശ്രൂഷയിൽ രതനായി, പഞ്ചയജ്ഞങ്ങളിൽ പരായണനായി, നിത്യം ഷട്കർമങ്ങളിൽ നിരതനായി, ദേവന്മാർക്കും പിതൃകൾക്കും അതിഥികൾക്കും പ്രിയനായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अग्निशुश्रूषणरतः: devoted to serving the sacred fire
• अग्निशुश्रूषणरतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + शुश्रूषण + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः: अग्नि-शुश्रूषण (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष) + रत (तत्पुरुष: devoted to service)

• पंचयज्ञपरायणः: devoted to the five sacrifices
• पंचयज्ञपरायणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + यज्ञ + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः: पञ्चयज्ञ (द्विगु/तत्पुरुष: five sacrifices) + परायण (devoted)

• षट्कर्मनिरतः: engaged in the six duties
• षट्कर्मनिरतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + कर्म + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः: षट्कर्म (द्विगु: six duties) + निरत (engaged)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः (adverbial accusative); कालवाचक (always)

• देवपित्रतिथिप्रियः: dear to gods, ancestors, and guests
• देवपित्रतिथिप्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + पितृ + अतिथि + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः: देव-पितृ-अतिथि (द्वन्द्व-समाहार/समुच्चय) + प्रिय (तत्पुरुष: dear to)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A brāhmaṇa householder tends three fires, offers oblations, then welcomes a guest; subtle presence of devas and pitṛs receiving offerings, with Kāśī’s riverfront ambience.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma in household life is sustained by daily worship, duty, and hospitality—linking home to gods and ancestors.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching occurs within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s praise of Kāśī, presenting ideal conduct for residents and pilgrims.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pañca-yajña (five daily sacrifices) and regular fire-service are highlighted, along with continual performance of prescribed duties.