Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 78

Devanagari script

एको मनोरथः प्रार्थ्यो ममास्त्यत्रार्यपुत्रक । विचारपथमापन्नस्तवापि स महाहितः

Transliteration

eko manorathaḥ prārthyo mamāstyatrāryaputraka | vicārapathamāpannastavāpi sa mahāhitaḥ

Translation

“แต่ยังมีความปรารถนาหนึ่งที่ข้าพึงทูลขอ ณ ที่นี้ โอ้กุมารผู้ประเสริฐ มันได้เข้าสู่ทางแห่งความใคร่ครวญของท่านแล้วด้วย และเป็นประโยชน์ยิ่งนัก”

Word by Word

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनोरथः: wish
• मनोरथः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रार्थ्यः: to be asked for
• प्रार्थ्यः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be requested’

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb: ‘here’)

• आर्यपुत्रक: O noble son (dear prince)
• आर्यपुत्रक: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य + पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘noble son’ as address)

• विचारपथम्: the path of reflection
• विचारपथम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘path of consideration’)

• आपन्नः: having entered
• आपन्नः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having entered/attained’

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: ‘also/even’)

• सः: that/he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाहितः: very beneficial
• महाहितः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘greatly beneficial’)

Speaker

Kalāvatī

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kalāvatī, composed, indicates there is one remaining request; her gesture suggests ‘consideration’—a finger near chin or a gentle open palm—while the king’s face shows recognition.

Characters & Entities

• Kalāvatī
• King

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A righteous request should be framed as “mahāhita”—aimed at true welfare, not mere personal gain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is named in this verse; it belongs to the Kāśī Khaṇḍa narrative context of sacred Vārāṇasī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the verse introduces an upcoming request.