Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

रोगहीनां भ्रातृमतीं स्वस्मात्किंचिल्लघीयसीम् । उद्वहेत द्विजो भार्यां सौम्यास्यां मृदुभाषिणीम्

Transliteration

rogahīnāṃ bhrātṛmatīṃ svasmātkiṃcillaghīyasīm | udvaheta dvijo bhāryāṃ saumyāsyāṃ mṛdubhāṣiṇīm

Translation

二次生者当迎娶无病、具兄弟、较己稍幼、容貌柔和、言语温婉之妻。

Word by Word

• रोगहीनाम्: free from disease
• रोगहीनाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग-हीन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (भार्याम्)

• भ्रातृमतीम्: having brothers
• भ्रातृमतीम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रातृ-मत् (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धितान्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वस्मात्: than oneself/from one’s own (family)
• स्वस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative of comparison/source)

• किञ्चित्: somewhat/a little
• किञ्चित्: Sambandha (Quantifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable quantifier), अल्पार्थक

• लघीयसीम्: younger/smaller (by a little)
• लघीयसीम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-प्रत्यय (comparative: -īyas), विशेषण

• उद्वहेत्: should marry (take in marriage)
• उद्वहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजः: a twice-born man
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• सौम्यास्याम्: with a gentle face
• सौम्यास्याम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य-आस्या (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मृदुभाषिणीम्: soft-spoken
• मृदुभाषिणीम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु-भाषिणी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa instruction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene betrothal moment: the prospective bride is depicted as healthy, gentle-faced, soft-spoken; family members and a priest witness with ritual vessels and garlands.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Harmony in gṛhastha life—supporting dharma—rests on health, maturity, and gentle conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa tradition of Kāśī, though the verse is focused on household dharma rather than a particular tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A marriage prescription: the recommended qualities to seek when undertaking the rite of विवाह (marriage).