Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

यज्ञार्थं च विवाहार्थं व्रतार्थं ब्राह्मणाय वै । अखंडं वसु ये दद्युस्तेत्र स्युर्वसुवर्चसः

Transliteration

yajñārthaṃ ca vivāhārthaṃ vratārthaṃ brāhmaṇāya vai | akhaṃḍaṃ vasu ye dadyustetra syurvasuvarcasaḥ

Translation

യജ്ഞത്തിനും വിവാഹകർമ്മത്തിനും വ്രതത്തിനുമായി ബ്രാഹ്മണന് അഖണ്ഡമായ ധനം നൽകുന്നവർ—അവർ അവിടെ സമൃദ്ധിയുടെ തേജസ്സോടെ ദീപ്തരാകും।

Word by Word

• यज्ञार्थम्: for sacrifice
• यज्ञार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (यज्ञस्य अर्थः/यज्ञार्थम् = 'for sacrifice') (Masc., Acc., Sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• विवाहार्थम्: for marriage
• विवाहार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (for marriage) (Masc., Acc., Sg.)

• व्रतार्थम्: for a vow
• व्रतार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (for a vow/observance) (Masc., Acc., Sg.)

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Dat., Sg.)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed)

• अखण्डम्: unbroken/entire
• अखण्डम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neut., Acc., Sg.)

• वसु: wealth
• वसु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neut., Acc., Sg.)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• दद्युः: may give
• दद्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (may give)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• स्युः: would be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (may be)

• वसुवर्चसः: having the splendor of wealth
• वसुवर्चसः: Karta (Predicate-adjective/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसु + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वसोः वर्चः यस्य) अर्थे गुणवाचक (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/householders seeking merit

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A patron offers a full measure of wealth (coins, cloth, cows implied) to a Brāhmaṇa officiant to complete a yajña, a wedding rite, or a vrata; Kāśī’s sacred skyline and a small fire-altar appear.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Yajña
• Vivāha
• Vrata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Supporting dharmic life-events and rites through generous giving is praised as a cause of enduring auspiciousness and prosperity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the teaching belongs to the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader dharma-praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Charity to Brāhmaṇas specifically earmarked for yajña, vivāha rites, and vrata observances.