Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

गृहीतार्घ्यंकिल श्रांतं पादसंवाहनादिभिः । गतश्रममथालोक्य बभाषे ऽवनतो गिरिः

Transliteration

gṛhītārghyaṃkila śrāṃtaṃ pādasaṃvāhanādibhiḥ | gataśramamathālokya babhāṣe 'vanato giriḥ

Translation

गृहीतार्घ्ये तदा श्रान्तः पादसंवाहनादिभिः सेवाभिर्विगतश्रमः। तस्य श्रमापगमं दृष्ट्वा विनयावनतो गिरिरिदं बभाषे॥

Word by Word

• गृहीतार्घ्यम्: (one) who has accepted the arghya (offering)
• गृहीतार्घ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) + तत्पुरुष-समास (गृहीतम् अर्घ्यम्)

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थे—खलु/इति प्रसिद्धौ

• श्रान्तम्: tired
• श्रान्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (श्रम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (tired)

• पादसंवाहनादिभिः: by foot-massage and other services
• पादसंवाहनादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाहन (सम्+वह् धातु, ल्युट्/घञ्-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पादस्य संवाहनम्) + ‘आदि’ समाहार (…and the like)

• गतश्रमम्: (him) whose fatigue had gone
• गतश्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (गतः श्रमो यस्य) = ‘whose fatigue has gone’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), अर्थः—दृष्ट्वा/अवलोक्य; क्रियाविशेषणभाव

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अवनतः: bowed
• अवनतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवनत (अव+नम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (bowed down)

• गिरिः: the mountain (Giri)
• गिरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Giri/Śaila (mountain personified, as host)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (traditional frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A weary sage is welcomed; arghya is offered; attendants massage his feet; a personified mountain bows low, preparing to speak once the sage’s fatigue has eased.

Characters & Entities

• Arghya
• Pāda-saṃvāhana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Service (sevā)—not merely words—removes a guest’s hardship and is a key expression of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The larger Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting glorifies Kāśī; this verse depicts the ideal conduct cultivated in such a sacred sphere.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

After arghya, one should offer practical hospitality such as pāda-saṃvāhana (massaging the feet) and related services.