Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थशास्त्रकुशलं ज्ञानविज्ञानशालिनम् । सुस्वरं सुपदव्यक्ति सुस्निग्धमृदुभाषिणम्

Transliteration

dharmārthaśāstrakuśalaṃ jñānavijñānaśālinam | susvaraṃ supadavyakti susnigdhamṛdubhāṣiṇam

Translation

ഗുരു ധർമ്മാർഥശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ നിപുണനും ജ്ഞാനവിജ്ഞാനസമ്പന്നനും ആയിരുന്നു; സുമധുരസ്വരൻ, വാക്കുകൾ വ്യക്തമായി ഉച്ചരിക്കുന്നവൻ, സ്നിഗ്ധമായി മൃദുഭാഷി.

Word by Word

• धर्मार्थशास्त्रकुशलम्: skilled in the treatises on dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थशास्त्रकुशलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + artha + śāstra + kuśala (प्रातिपदिक); dharma-artha-śāstra-kuśala (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; आचार्य-विशेषण

• ज्ञानविज्ञानशालिनम्: possessing knowledge and realized wisdom
• ज्ञानविज्ञानशालिनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna + vijñāna + śālin (प्रातिपदिक); jñāna-vijñāna-śālin (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आचार्य-विशेषण

• सुस्वरम्: having a good voice
• सुस्वरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + svara (प्रातिपदिक); su-svara (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आचार्य-विशेषण

• सुपदव्यक्तिम्: with clear articulation of words
• सुपदव्यक्तिम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + pada + vyakti (प्रातिपदिक); su-pada-vyakti (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (used adjectivally) — ‘सुपदा व्यक्तिः यस्य’ (clear articulation of words)

• सुस्निग्धम्: very affectionate/gentle
• सुस्निग्धम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + snigdha (प्रातिपदिक); su-snigdha (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आचार्य-विशेषण

• मृदुभाषिणम्: speaking softly
• मृदुभाषिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛdu + bhāṣin (प्रातिपदिक); mṛdu-bhāṣin (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आचार्य-विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-Avimukta (ācārya-saṅga emphasis)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait-like focus on the ācārya: gentle face, calm eyes, poised posture; students listen as his voice seems melodious; manuscripts and teaching implements nearby, suggesting mastery and kindness.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Artha
• Jñāna
• Vijñāna
• Ācārya (teacher)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A true teacher unites scriptural mastery with realized wisdom and compassionate speech—knowledge that uplifts rather than merely impresses.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse supports the Kāśī section’s dharmic teaching atmosphere through the portrait of an ideal guru.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes qualifications and demeanor of a worthy spiritual instructor.