Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

इति द्विजवचः श्रुत्वा प्रोचतुर्गणसत्तमौ । शिवशर्मञ्छिवमते सदा सप्तर्षयोमलाः

Transliteration

iti dvijavacaḥ śrutvā procaturgaṇasattamau | śivaśarmañchivamate sadā saptarṣayomalāḥ

Translation

ద్విజుని మాటలు విని ఆ ఇద్దరు శ్రేష్ఠ గణులు పలికిరి— “హే శివశర్మా! శివమత ప్రకారం ఇక్కడ సదా నిర్మలమైన సప్తర్షులు నివసించుచున్నారు।”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/पूर्वोक्त-सूचक

• द्विजवचः: the brahmin's words
• द्विजवचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजस्य वचः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Sambandha (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• प्रोचतुः: the two said
• प्रोचतुः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद-रूप (perfect-like narrative) अथवा लङ्-सम्भाव्य; प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• गणसत्तमौ: the two best among the attendants
• गणसत्तमौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गणेषु सत्तमौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• शिवशर्मन्: O Śivaśarman
• शिवशर्मन्: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• शिवमते: O one devoted to Śiva / O Śiva-minded one
• शिवमते: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य मतः/मतम्); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• सप्तर्षयः: the seven sages
• सप्तर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अमलाः: pure
• अमलाः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; qualifying 'सप्तर्षयः'

Speaker

Agastya (narration; direct speech by two gaṇas)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Saptarṣi-loka (as described)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (macro-frame); immediate: Śivaśarmā listening to two gaṇa attendants

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two splendid divine attendants (gaṇa-sattamau) address the brāhmaṇa respectfully, pointing toward a pure luminous region where the Seven Sages abide, serene and stainless.

Characters & Entities

• Śivaśarmā
• Gaṇas
• Saptarṣis
• Śiva (Śiva-mata)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True spiritual authority is anchored in śāstra and Śiva’s teaching; purity (amala) is the hallmark of the highest sages.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse explains a celestial setting associated with the Saptarṣis; it is part of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s broader glorification of sacred order under Śiva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is doctrinal and explanatory.