Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

सार्द्रदूर्वाक्षतकरैः सपुष्पफलपाणिभिः । सुगंधमाल्यहस्तैश्च ब्राह्मणैर्जयवादिभिः

Transliteration

sārdradūrvākṣatakaraiḥ sapuṣpaphalapāṇibhiḥ | sugaṃdhamālyahastaiśca brāhmaṇairjayavādibhiḥ

Translation

那些婆罗门手持湿润的杜尔瓦草与不碎之米，掌托花果，执持芬芳花鬘，高呼胜利与吉祥颂声而来。

Word by Word

• sārdra-dūrvā-akṣata-karaiḥ: with hands holding moist dūrvā grass and unbroken rice
• sārdra-dūrvā-akṣata-karaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sārdra (प्रातिपदिक) + dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣata (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3/करण), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (विशेषण-समासः)

• sa-puṣpa-phala-pāṇibhiḥ: with hands bearing flowers and fruits
• sa-puṣpa-phala-pāṇibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः; 'sa-' = सहित (with)

• sugaṃdha-mālya-hastaiḥ: with hands holding fragrant garlands
• sugaṃdha-mālya-hastaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (सुगन्धं माल्यं येषां हस्तेषु)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')

• brāhmaṇaiḥ: by/with the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3/करण), बहुवचन

• jaya-vādibhiḥ: uttering cries of 'victory'
• jaya-vādibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3/करण), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (jayaṃ vadanti iti)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (Gaṅgā-tīra precinct)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brāhmaṇas in festive procession, palms filled with moist dūrvā and akṣata, others holding flowers, fruits, and fragrant garlands; mouths open in synchronized ‘jaya’ acclamations as they advance toward the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Dūrvā
• Akṣata
• Flowers
• Fruits
• Garlands
• Kāśīnātha/Śiva (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion is expressed through simple, pure offerings and joyful praise—outer reverence mirroring inner bhakti.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader Kāśī pilgrimage setting is in view; the verse focuses on the worshipful approach to the Lord there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offering dūrvā, akṣata, flowers, fruits, and fragrant garlands—standard pūjā-upacāras accompanied by jaya-vāda.