Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

अनाथनाथाऽभीष्टार्थसिद्धिदाऽनंगवर्धिनी । अणिमादिगुणाऽधाराग्रगण्याऽलीकहारिणी

Transliteration

anāthanāthā'bhīṣṭārthasiddhidā'naṃgavardhinī | aṇimādiguṇā'dhārāgragaṇyā'līkahāriṇī

Translation

Sie ist die Beschützerin der Schutzlosen, gewährt die Erfüllung ersehnter Ziele und mehrt die heilige Liebe. Sie ist die Stütze der yogischen Vollkommenheiten, beginnend mit aṇimā; die Erste unter den Verehrten und die Vertreiberin der Unwahrheit.

Word by Word

• अनाथनाथा: protector of the helpless
• अनाथनाथा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अनाथानां नाथा)

• अभीष्टार्थसिद्धिदा: giver of fulfillment of desired aims
• अभीष्टार्थसिद्धिदा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अभीष्टस्य अर्थस्य सिद्धिं ददाति)

• अनङ्गवर्धिनी: enhancer of Ananga (love)
• अनङ्गवर्धिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अनङ्गस्य वर्धिनी)

• अणिमादिगुणाधारा: support of qualities like aṇimā
• अणिमादिगुणाधारा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अणिमादीनां गुणानाम् आधारः)

• अग्रगण्या: foremost; to be counted first
• अग्रगण्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गण्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अग्रे गण्या)

• अलीकहारिणी: remover of falsehood
• अलीकहारिणी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलीक (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अलीकं हरति)

Speaker

Skanda (contextual attribution within Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Kāśī) as Siddhi-dāyinī

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṅgā as guardian-mother stands at the riverbank, granting boons; around her appear symbolic aṇimā etc. as subtle lights; a veil of falsehood dissolves as her waters flow.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Aṇimā (siddhi)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The tīrtha is not merely physical: Gaṅgā supports inner transformation—truthfulness, attainment of aims, and yogic refinement.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā in Kāśī, revered as a living support for spiritual attainments within the sacred city’s pilgrimage framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated directly; the verse implies that contact with Gaṅgā (snāna, ācamana, stuti) is connected with siddhi and purification.