Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अथ विप्रं गृहं प्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा तस्य सती प्रिया । अज्ञातमपिसद्भक्त्या सूपचारैरतोषयत्

Transliteration

atha vipraṃ gṛhaṃ prāptaṃ dṛṣṭvā tasya satī priyā | ajñātamapisadbhaktyā sūpacārairatoṣayat

Translation

घरी आलेल्या त्या ब्राह्मणाला पाहून त्याची पतिव्रता प्रिया—तो अपरिचित असला तरी—सद्भक्तीने व योग्य सत्काराने त्याला संतुष्ट करू लागली.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• विप्रम्: the Brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• गृहम्: the house
• गृहम्: Karma (Object/Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• प्राप्तम्: who had arrived (there)
• प्राप्तम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप् (धातु) (प्र-√आप्) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विप्रम् इति विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'vipram')

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive: having seen)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• सती: the virtuous wife
• सती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• प्रिया: beloved
• प्रिया: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective)

• अज्ञातम्: (him) unknown (to her)
• अज्ञातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मप्रवचनीय-भावे (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'unknown' as object-state)

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: even/although)

• सद्भक्त्या: with sincere devotion
• सद्भक्त्या: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः (true/devout devotion)

• सूपचारैः: with good hospitality/attentions
• सूपचारैः: Karana (Means/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः (good services/attentions)

• अतोषयत्: she pleased, satisfied
• अतोषयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु) (आ-√तुष्/तोषय)
• Form: लङ् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Imperfect/Past, 3rd person, Singular); णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: caused to be pleased)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The virtuous wife welcomes the unknown brāhmaṇa-guest with heartfelt devotion—offering water, seat, and respectful service—despite the household’s ongoing distress.

Characters & Entities

• vipra
• satī (virtuous wife)
• atithi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Serving an unknown guest with sincere devotion is praised as dharma; such humility attracts auspicious outcomes in tīrtha narratives.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha is not named in this verse; the hospitality scene sets the stage for later revelation about a healing sacred place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Proper upacāra (courteous service) to an atithi—food, respect, and care—an implied household observance.