Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

पादाभ्यंगं दीपदानं प्रपादानं विशेषतः । व्यजनं वस्त्रतांबूलं तथान्यन्मुखवासकृत

Transliteration

pādābhyaṃgaṃ dīpadānaṃ prapādānaṃ viśeṣataḥ | vyajanaṃ vastratāṃbūlaṃ tathānyanmukhavāsakṛta

Translation

“为足部涂油按摩、施灯供明，尤以设立施水之处为胜；并施扇、衣、槟榔等，及其他令行旅得安适清凉之善行。”

Word by Word

• पादाभ्यङ्गम्: foot-massage
• पादाभ्यङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + अभ्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दीपदानम्: gift of a lamp
• दीपदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + दान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रपादानम्: offering of footwear/foot-support (pādāna)
• प्रपादानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + पादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• व्यजनम्: a fan (for fanning)
• व्यजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वस्त्रताम्बूलम्: cloth and betel (together)
• वस्त्रताम्बूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: 'thus/also')

• अन्यत्: other (things)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मुखवासकृत्: one who provides mouth-perfume/refreshment (e.g., betel etc.)
• मुखवासकृत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख + वास + कृत् (कृ धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (ghāṭa-mārga/prapā context)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A bustling Kāśī lane leading to a ghat at dusk: volunteers light rows of lamps, a shaded water-station offers cool water, attendants fan weary pilgrims, and an elder receives foot-massage after darśana.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrim-service (sevā) is a high dharma: easing others’ fatigue becomes a direct cause of puṇya in the sacred field of Kāśī.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī as a pilgrimage hub is the implied setting; the verse highlights traveler-aid practices suited to tīrtha-yātrā culture.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna/sevā items and acts: foot-massage, lamp-gifting, establishing water-stations, giving fans, clothes, and tāmbūla.