Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

सुरज्येष्ठः सुराचार्यं चकारांगिरसं तदा । देवदुंदुभयो नेदुर्ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः

Transliteration

surajyeṣṭhaḥ surācāryaṃ cakārāṃgirasaṃ tadā | devaduṃdubhayo nedurnanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ

Translation

Da setzte der Vortrefflichste der Götter Āṅgirasa (Bṛhaspati) als Lehrer der Devas ein. Göttliche Kesseltrommeln erschallten, und Scharen von Apsaras tanzten.

Word by Word

• सुर-ज्येष्ठः: the eldest among the gods (Indra)
• सुर-ज्येष्ठः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सुराणां ज्येष्ठः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सुर-आचार्यम्: (as) teacher of the gods
• सुर-आचार्यम्: Karma (Object-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुराणाम् आचार्यः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• चकार: made/appointed
• चकार: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आङ्गिरसम्: Āṅgirasa (Bṛhaspati)
• आङ्गिरसम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• देव-दुन्दुभयः: divine drums
• देव-दुन्दुभयः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां दुन्दुभयः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• नेदुः: resounded
• नेदुः: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ननृतुः: danced
• ननृतुः: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अप्सरः-गणाः: groups of apsarases
• अप्सरः-गणाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अप्सरसां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra (foremost among gods) appoints the Āṅgirasa—Bṛhaspati—as deva-ācārya; divine kettledrums thunder and apsarases dance in jubilant celebration.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (implied by surajyeṣṭha)
• Bṛhaspati (Āṅgirasa)
• Deva-dundubhis
• Apsarases

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma is rightly established, the cosmos itself rejoices—signified by drums and celestial dance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the sacred narrative ground leading to the glorification of Bṛhaspatīśvara-liṅga.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse implies formal installation/appointment of a devācārya, accompanied by auspicious celebration.