Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

वयं त्वच्छरणं भूत्वा पर्वता इव निश्चलाः । स्थित्वा चराम निःशंका ब्राह्मणेंद्र महाहवे

Transliteration

vayaṃ tvaccharaṇaṃ bhūtvā parvatā iva niścalāḥ | sthitvā carāma niḥśaṃkā brāhmaṇeṃdra mahāhave

Translation

Da wir bei dir Zuflucht genommen haben, sind wir standhaft wie Berge; fest stehend bewegen wir uns ohne Furcht, o Bester der Brahmanen, in dieser großen Schlacht.

Word by Word

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: of you)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (भूत्वा इत्यस्य पूरक-नाम)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (Simile/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• निश्चलाः: unmoving/steadfast
• निश्चलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक; निः + चल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वयम्)

• स्थित्वा: having stood/remained
• स्थित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय

• चराम: we move/we act
• चराम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन

• निःशङ्काः: without fear
• निःशङ्काः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःशङ्क (प्रातिपदिक; निः + शङ्का)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वयम्)

• ब्राह्मणेन्द्र: O lord of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्मणानाम् इन्द्रः)

• महाहवे: in the great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव (प्रातिपदिक; महा + आहव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् आहवः)

Speaker

Andhaka (or daitya-side speaker) addressing Śukra as brāhmaṇendra (deduced from immediate context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of supplicants addresses a revered Brahmin leader amid battle; their posture is firm and upright like mountains, conveying calm fearlessness while chaos swirls around.

Characters & Entities

• Śukra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Taking refuge (śaraṇāgati) gives inner steadiness and fearlessness—though dharma ultimately judges how that strength is used.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader glorification is of Kāśī in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa; this verse itself is part of the narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a statement of reliance and fearlessness in battle.