Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

अगस्त्य उवाच । इत्थं कथयतोरेव रम्यां पुण्यवतीं कथाम् । भगवद्गणयोः प्राप नेत्रातिथ्यं गुरोः पुरी

Transliteration

agastya uvāca | itthaṃ kathayatoreva ramyāṃ puṇyavatīṃ kathām | bhagavadgaṇayoḥ prāpa netrātithyaṃ guroḥ purī

Translation

ଅଗସ୍ତ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ସେ ଦୁଇଜଣ ଯେତେବେଳେ ସେହି ରମ୍ୟ ଓ ପୁଣ୍ୟଦାୟିନୀ କଥା କହୁଥିଲେ, ଗୁରୁଙ୍କ ପୁରୀ ପବିତ୍ର କାଶୀ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କ ଗଣମାନଙ୍କ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିଗୋଚର ହୋଇ, ତାଙ୍କ ନୟନଙ୍କୁ ମନୋହର ଆତିଥ୍ୟ ଦେଲା।

Word by Word

• अगस्त्यः: Agastya
• अगस्त्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

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

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• कथयतोः: of the two narrating
• कथयतोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनरूप (Gen./Loc. dual form used here as genitive: 'of the two who were narrating')

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• रम्याम्: charming
• रम्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• पुण्यवतीम्: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यवतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कथाम्: story
• कथाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• भगवत्-गणयोः: of the two attendants of the Lord
• भगवत्-गणयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of the Lord' + 'attendants'); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन

• प्राप: attained/received
• प्राप: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• नेत्रातिथ्यम्: a feast for the eyes
• नेत्रातिथ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आतिथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative; 'eye' + 'hospitality' = 'a feast for the eyes'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• पुरी: the city
• पुरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: (Frame audience implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two divine attendants (gaṇas) traveling with a teacher and companion; the skyline of Kāśī appears—temple spires, ghāṭas, and the Gaṅgā shimmering—framed as ‘feast for the eyes’.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Śiva-gaṇas
• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the mere darśana (sight) of Kāśī is portrayed as spiritually uplifting and merit-giving.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), called “the Guru’s city,” celebrated as supremely auspicious to behold.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed here; the emphasis is on the sanctifying power of seeing Kāśī.