Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

उवाच च प्रसन्नास्य आशीर्भिरभिनद्य च । उत्तिष्ठतं प्रकुरुतं महानेपथ्यमद्य वै

Transliteration

uvāca ca prasannāsya āśīrbhirabhinadya ca | uttiṣṭhataṃ prakurutaṃ mahānepathyamadya vai

Translation

E, com semblante sereno, saudando-os com bênçãos, disse: «Levantai-vos e fazei hoje mesmo os grandes preparativos».

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and) — Conjunction

• प्रसन्न-आस्यः: with a cheerful face
• प्रसन्न-आस्यः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (प्रसन्नम् आस्यम् यस्य) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आशीर्भिः: with blessings
• आशीर्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिनद्य: having greeted/hailed
• अभिनद्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-नद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (अव्ययभाव); तुमुन्-न, क्त्वा (having greeted/hailed) — Gerund (absolutive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक — Conjunction

• उत्तिष्ठतम्: (you two) arise/stand up
• उत्तिष्ठतम्: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Dual, Parasmaipada

• प्रकुरुतम्: (you two) perform/do
• प्रकुरुतम्: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Dual, Parasmaipada

• महान्-एपथ्यम्: great preparation/attire
• महान्-एपथ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान् (प्रातिपदिक) + एपथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महद् एपथ्यम्) — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (today/now) — Temporal adverb

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed) — Emphatic particle

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: narrative voice within Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A revered elder/teacher figure with a serene face raises a hand in blessing, addressing attendants or pilgrims who stand up and begin arranging ceremonial items—garlands, lamps, vessels—suggesting a major sacred undertaking.

Characters & Entities

• Āśīḥ (blessing)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic instruction is often framed as blessed guidance—readiness and right action are encouraged under auspicious benediction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The chapter context is Maṇikarṇikā in Kāśī, though this verse functions as narrative direction rather than direct tīrtha praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A general command to undertake “mahā-nepathya” (grand preparations/arrangements), without specifying a particular rite in this verse.