Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

घातयेद्दूरसंस्थोपि यः पांथपरिपंथिनः । व्याघ्रादीन् दुष्टसत्त्वांश्च स हिनस्ति प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

ghātayeddūrasaṃsthopi yaḥ pāṃthaparipaṃthinaḥ | vyāghrādīn duṣṭasattvāṃśca sa hinasti prayatnataḥ

Translation

Selbst aus der Ferne bemüht er sich, jene zu töten, die Reisende überfallen—Tiger und andere böse Kreaturen—und handelt mit bedachtem Eifer, um den Weg zu schützen.

Word by Word

• ghātayet: should cause to be killed / should have killed
• ghātayet: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghātaya (धातु √घात्/√हन् causative; प्रेरणार्थक)
• Form: लकारः विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 3 (प्रथम), वचनम् एकवचनम्; causative (णिच्)

• dūra-saṃsthaḥ: being at a distance
• dūra-saṃsthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (qualifier of yaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अर्थः ‘even/also’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचकः सर्वनाम

• pāṃtha-paripaṃthinaḥ: highwaymen who waylay travelers
• pāṃtha-paripaṃthinaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṃtha (प्रातिपदिक) + paripaṃthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मपदम्

• vyāghra-ādīn: tigers and the like
• vyāghra-ādīn: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; ‘आदि’समासः (etc.)

• duṣṭa-sattvān: wicked creatures/beings
• duṣṭa-sattvān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधकः अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• hinasti: kills/destroys
• hinasti: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 3, वचनम् एकवचनम्

• prayatnataḥ: with effort
• prayatnataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (ablatival adverb): ‘by effort/with exertion’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (yātrā-mārga-sevā context)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vigilant road-guardian/hunter stands at a distance with bow or spear, driving away or striking a tiger and other predatory beings near a pilgrim path; weary pilgrims with staffs and waterpots move safely behind him under sacred trees.

Characters & Entities

• Piṅgākṣa
• pāthika (traveler)
• vyāghra (tiger)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Protection of pilgrims and travelers is upheld as dharma; force is justified only to remove grave danger and restore safety.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-kṣetra context is implied; the verse supports safe passage for those journeying through Kāśī’s sacred region and forests.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; the teaching emphasizes righteous conduct—removing threats and ensuring safety for wayfarers.