Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

व्रती समर्चयेद्वस्त्रैः करकर्णविभूषणैः । सुगंधचंदनैर्माल्यैर्दक्षिणाभिर्मुदान्वितः

Transliteration

vratī samarcayedvastraiḥ karakarṇavibhūṣaṇaiḥ | sugaṃdhacaṃdanairmālyairdakṣiṇābhirmudānvitaḥ

Translation

விரதம் மேற்கொண்டவர் ஆடைகள், கை-காது அணிகலன்கள், நறுமணச் சந்தனம், மாலைகள், தக்ஷிணை ஆகியவற்றால் மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் அவர்களைச் சிறப்பாகப் பூஜிக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• samarcayet: should worship
• samarcayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• vastraiḥ: with garments
• vastraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kara-karṇa-vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: with hand- and ear-ornaments
• kara-karṇa-vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara + karṇa + vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kara-karṇayoḥ vibhūṣaṇaiḥ = ornaments for hands and ears)

• sugandha-candanaiḥ: with fragrant substances and sandalwood
• sugandha-candanaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugandha + candana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• mālyaiḥ: with garlands
• mālyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: with gifts/fees (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mudā-anvitaḥ: endowed with joy
• mudā-anvitaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (mudayā anvitaḥ = endowed with joy)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context) to Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The vow-observer presents fine garments, bracelets and earrings, sandal paste, and garlands, then offers dakṣiṇā, his face bright with devotional joy as the seated ācārya-couple receives honors.

Characters & Entities

• Ācārya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual purity is strengthened by generous, joyful giving—dāna performed without reluctance becomes a purifier and a dharma-support.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred geography, but this verse primarily teaches general vrata-conclusion etiquette.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer garments, hand-and-ear ornaments, sandal paste, garlands, and dakṣiṇā as part of the concluding worship.