Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

यामेतां जगतां धात्रीं धारयामि स्वलीलया । विश्वस्य रक्षणार्थाय परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणीम्

Transliteration

yāmetāṃ jagatāṃ dhātrīṃ dhārayāmi svalīlayā | viśvasya rakṣaṇārthāya parabrahmasvarūpiṇīm

Translation

Diese eben—Amme und Erhalterin der Welten—trage Ich durch Mein eigenes göttliches Spiel, zum Schutz des Universums: sie, deren Wesen das höchste Brahman ist.

Word by Word

• याम्: whom
• याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• एताम्: this (her)
• एताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धात्रीम्: the sustainer, supporter
• धात्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धारयामि: I sustain, I uphold
• धारयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/Indicative), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• स्व-लीलया: by (my) own play
• स्व-लीलया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (by one’s own play)

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्षण-अर्थाय: for the sake of protection
• रक्षण-अर्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (for the purpose of protection)

• पर-ब्रह्म-स्वरूपिणीम्: (her) who is of the nature of the Supreme Brahman
• पर-ब्रह्म-स्वरूपिणीम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (having the nature of the Supreme Brahman)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Jagaddhātrī aspect)

Type: river

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Viṣṇu / divine interlocutor

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cosmic tableau: Gaṅgā as a motherly goddess cradling miniature worlds, while the Lord (Śiva) supports her flow through līlā—depicted as effortless, playful governance over the universe.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Parabrahman

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred manifests in the world as divine protection—Gaṅgā is upheld as a saving presence and as Supreme Reality itself.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā in the Kāśī context, revered as the sustainer of worlds and protector of the cosmos.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; the verse emphasizes Gaṅgā’s protective purpose, supporting devotional acts like reverent remembrance and worship.