Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

दृष्टः प्रणम्य विज्ञप्तो यथा तच्च निथामय । ब्रह्मचारिन्मुनिश्रेष्ठ गंधमादनशैलतः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭaḥ praṇamya vijñapto yathā tacca nithāmaya | brahmacārinmuniśreṣṭha gaṃdhamādanaśailataḥ

Translation

നിങ്ങളെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ ഞാൻ നമസ്കരിച്ചു, കാര്യം യഥാർത്ഥമായതുപോലെ തന്നെ അറിയിച്ചു—ദയവായി കേൾക്കുക. ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മചാരിൻ, മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, ഞാൻ ഗന്ധമാദന പർവതത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വന്നിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭaḥ: (having been) seen / met
• dṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (past pass. ptcp. masc. nom. sg.)

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (नम्) with pra-
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय (gerund)

• vijñaptaḥ: was informed / was requested
• vijñaptaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñap (ज्ञप्) with vi-
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि (past pass. ptcp. masc. nom. sg.)

• yathā: as / in the manner that
• yathā: Sambandha (Clause linker/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/उपमान/प्रकारवाचक) (indecl.)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

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

• nithāmaya: listen / consider
• nithāmaya: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śam (शम्) with ni- (नि)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (पाठभेद: ‘निशामय’)

• brahmacārin: O brahmacārin
• brahmacārin: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (voc. sg.)

• muni-śreṣṭha: O best of sages
• muni-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः’ (voc. sg.)

• gaṃdhamādana-śailataḥ: from Mount Gandhamādana
• gaṃdhamādana-śailataḥ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃdhamādana (प्रातिपदिक) + śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘गन्धमादनः शैलः’ (place-name) (abl. sg.)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gandhamādana

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A brahmacārin, best of sages (muniśreṣṭha); within the larger frame, the king is also being informed

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A traveler/messenger bows to a great brahmacārin sage and submits a truthful report; the aura of Gandhamādana—snow peaks, fragrant forests—lingers as a backdrop or in symbolic elements.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacārin (addressed sage)
• Gandhamādana Mountain

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility before sages and truthful reporting are dhārmic foundations for receiving effective guidance and protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse names Gandhamādana (a sacred mountain); it remains embedded in the Kāśī-khaṇḍa’s sacred narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it emphasizes respectful approach (praṇāma) and truthful communication.