Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अगस्त्य उवाच । अतिथित्वमवाप नेत्रयोर्बुधलोकः शिवशर्मणस्त्वथ । गणयोर्भगणस्य संकथां कथयित्रो रिति विष्णुचेतसोः

Transliteration

agastya uvāca | atithitvamavāpa netrayorbudhalokaḥ śivaśarmaṇastvatha | gaṇayorbhagaṇasya saṃkathāṃ kathayitro riti viṣṇucetasoḥ

Translation

ଅଗସ୍ତ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ବୁଧଲୋକ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ଶିବଶର୍ମା ସେଇ ଦୁଇ ଗଣଙ୍କୁ ଅତିଥିରୂପେ ସତ୍କାର କଲେ; ବିଷ୍ଣୁନିଷ୍ଠ ଚିତ୍ତ ଥିବା ସେମାନେ ସେଇ ତାରାଗଣର କଥା କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• agastyaḥ: Agastya
• agastyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• atithitvam: guesthood, hospitality
• atithitvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• avāpa: obtained, attained
• avāpa: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); उपसर्गः—ava-

• netrayoḥ: of the two eyes
• netrayoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) / सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• budha-lokaḥ: the world of Budha (Mercury)
• budha-lokaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः

• śivaśarmaṇaḥ: of Śivaśarman
• śivaśarmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivaśarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• atha: then, now
• atha: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle: then/now)

• gaṇayoḥ: of the two attendants (gaṇas)
• gaṇayoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) / सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• bhagaṇasya: of Bhagaṇa
• bhagaṇasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• saṃkathām: the narrative, account
• saṃkathām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• kathayitroḥ: of the two narrators
• kathayitroḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathayitṛ (प्रातिपदिक; कर्तृ-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

• iti: thus
• iti: Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• viṣṇu-cetasoḥ: of the two whose minds are on Viṣṇu / Viṣṇu-minded (two)
• viṣṇu-cetasoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Agastya

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Agastya narrates; Śivaśarman in a hermitage receives two radiant gaṇas as honored guests; behind them a subtle celestial vista suggesting Budha-loka and a starry host.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Śivaśarman
• Budha (Mercury)
• Gaṇas
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic teaching is transmitted through hospitality, dialogue, and faithful narration—virtues that sustain dharma and sacred memory.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader Kāśīkhaṇḍa context continues, though this verse shifts to a narrative bridge rather than a direct tīrtha praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Atithi-satkāra (honoring guests) is implied as a dharmic practice.