Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

सृष्टिप्रलय संज्ञौ द्वौ ग्लहौ जयपराजयौ । देवीजये भवेत्सृष्टिरसृष्टिर्धूर्जटेर्जये

Transliteration

sṛṣṭipralaya saṃjñau dvau glahau jayaparājayau | devījaye bhavetsṛṣṭirasṛṣṭirdhūrjaṭerjaye

Translation

رهانا اللعبة اثنان، يُسميان «الخلق» و«الانحلال»، وهما النصر والهزيمة. إذا غلبت الإلهة قام الخلق؛ وإذا غلب دُهورجَطي (شِيفا) كان اللاخلق—الانطواء والارتداد.

Word by Word

• सृष्टिप्रलय: creation and dissolution
• सृष्टिप्रलय: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि + प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समाहार/द्वन्द्व-प्रायः), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः ‘सृष्टिश्च प्रलयश्च’

• संज्ञौ: named/called
• संज्ञौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (नामधेय-रूपेण)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• ग्लहौ: stakes/wagers (in a game)
• ग्लहौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्लह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• जयपराजयौ: victory and defeat
• जयपराजयौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय + पराजय (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः ‘जयश्च पराजयश्च’

• देवीजये: in the देवी’s victory
• देवीजये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी + जय (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘देव्याः जयः’

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• असृष्टिः: non-creation
• असृष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक

• धूर्जटेः: of Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva)
• धूर्जटेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूर्जटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• जये: in victory
• जये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Nārada

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages in the listening assembly

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two symbolic stakes labeled ‘Sṛṣṭi’ and ‘Pralaya’ set beside a divine game; Devī’s ‘win’ radiates worlds emerging, while Śiva’s ‘win’ shows worlds dissolving into stillness; Kāśī’s skyline anchors the vision.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Śakti)
• Śiva (Dhūrjaṭi)
• Sṛṣṭi
• Pralaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Creation and dissolution are not random; they are governed by the harmonious sovereignty of Śiva and Śakti.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No distinct tīrtha is specified; the verse teaches cosmic principles within the Kailāsa narrative context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is theological cosmology expressed through metaphor.