Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 72
Devanagari script
धर्मोपदेशः शूद्राणां स्वश्रेयः प्रतिघातयेत् । द्विजशुश्रूषणं धर्मः शूद्राणां हि परो मतः
Transliteration
dharmopadeśaḥ śūdrāṇāṃ svaśreyaḥ pratighātayet | dvijaśuśrūṣaṇaṃ dharmaḥ śūdrāṇāṃ hi paro mataḥ
Translation
此处说，对首陀罗讲授（某些）法（dharma）会妨碍其自身福祉。首陀罗之最高法，被认为是侍奉并恭敬随侍二次生者（dvija）。
Word by Word
धर्मोपदेशःinstruction in dharma
धर्मोपदेशः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य उपदेशः)
शूद्राणाम्of Śūdras
शूद्राणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
स्वश्रेयःone's own welfare
स्वश्रेयः:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वं श्रेयः)
प्रतिघातयेत्would hinder/obstruct
प्रतिघातयेत्:
Kriya (Predicate action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-घातय् (धातु; √घट्/घात् caus.)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
द्विजशुश्रूषणम्service to the twice-born
द्विजशुश्रूषणम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां शुश्रूषणम्)
धर्मःdharma
धर्मः:
Samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
शूद्राणाम्of Śūdras
शूद्राणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle/emphasis)
परःhighest/supreme
परः:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मस्य)
मतःconsidered/held to be
मतः:
Samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन् + क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), विशेषणम् (धर्मस्य)
Speaker
Skanda
Tirtha Mahatmya
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A didactic scene in Kāśī: a seated ācārya instructs householders near a ghat; attendants stand respectfully, emphasizing seva and disciplined conduct.
Characters & Entities
K
Kāśī (implied by Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)FAQs
It presents a traditional, rule-bound view of dharma roles and emphasizes duty as defined by the text’s framework.
The verse is part of Kāśī-centered instruction in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, not a particular tīrtha description.
It prescribes śuśrūṣā (service/attendance) as the principal duty for Śūdras in this passage.