Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

दयादाक्षिण्यनिपुणाः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः । क्षमया क्षमयातुल्या गांभीर्यजितसागराः

Transliteration

dayādākṣiṇyanipuṇāḥ satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ | kṣamayā kṣamayātulyā gāṃbhīryajitasāgarāḥ

Translation

അവർ ദയയും ദാക്ഷിണ്യവും കൈവശമുള്ളവർ, സത്യവ്രതത്തിൽ പരായണർ; ക്ഷമയിൽ അതുല്യർ, ഗാംഭീര്യത്തിൽ സമുദ്രത്തെയും അതിക്രമിച്ചവർ.

Word by Word

• दया: compassion
• दया: Compound-member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual in compound), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• दाक्षिण्य: generosity/courtesy
• दाक्षिण्य: Compound-member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षिण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual in compound), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• निपुणाः: skilled
• निपुणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निपुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दयादाक्षिण्यनिपुणाः: skilled in compassion and generosity
• दयादाक्षिण्यनिपुणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक) + दाक्षिण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निपुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (दयायां दाक्षिण्ये च निपुणाः)

• सत्यव्रतपरायणाः: devoted to truthful vows
• सत्यव्रतपरायणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सत्यव्रते परायणाः = devoted to vows of truth)

• क्षमया: by/with forbearance
• क्षमया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• क्षमयातुल्याः: incomparable in patience
• क्षमयातुल्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक) + अतुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (क्षमया अतुल्याः = incomparable in forbearance)

• गांभीर्यजितसागराः: whose depth surpasses the ocean
• गांभीर्यजितसागराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गांभीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त; √जि) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गांभीर्येण सागरं जिताः/गांभीर्ये सागरं जयन्ति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājārṣi addressee

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king shown performing compassionate acts—feeding the needy, granting refuge, forgiving an offender—while holding a gesture of truth (raised hand in oath). Behind, a vast river/ocean motif symbolizes gāmbhīrya.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is measured by inner virtues—truth, compassion, generosity, and patient forgiveness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not named in this verse; the praise occurs within the Kāśī narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A vow of truth (satya-vrata) is highlighted as a lived discipline rather than a formal ritual.