Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

स्वयं व्यापारयामास रक्षार्थं शशिशेखरः । अनुज्ञातप्रवेशानां विश्वेशेन कृपावता

Transliteration

svayaṃ vyāpārayāmāsa rakṣārthaṃ śaśiśekharaḥ | anujñātapraveśānāṃ viśveśena kṛpāvatā

Translation

Śaśiśekhara, der mondbekränzte Herr (Śiva), nahm selbst die Aufgabe des Schutzes auf sich, damit jene behütet seien, denen der barmherzige Viśveśa den Eintritt gewährt hatte.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मार्थे/स्वार्थे (reflexive adverb: 'oneself')

• व्यापारयामास: caused to act / set in motion
• व्यापारयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vy-ā-√pṛ (धातु) + causative (णिच्) + लिट्
• Form: धातु: √पृ (पूरणे/प्रेरणे) with उपसर्ग vy-ā; णिच् (causative); लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रक्षायाः अर्थः = for the sake of protection); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• शशिशेखरः: Śaśiśekhara (Śiva, 'moon-crested')
• शशिशेखरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśi (प्रातिपदिक) + śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (शशिः एव शेखरः यस्य/शशिशेखरः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अनुज्ञातप्रवेशानाम्: of those permitted to enter
• अनुज्ञातप्रवेशानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त) + praveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अनुज्ञातः प्रवेशः येषाम् = those whose entry is permitted); बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक, contextually 'people')

• विश्वेशेन: by Viśveśa (Lord of the universe)
• विश्वेशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (विश्वस्य ईशः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• कृपावता: compassionate
• कृपावता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'viśveśena')

Speaker

Skanda (contextual, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra), Viśveśvara

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within the luminous precincts of Kāśī, Viśveśa compassionately grants entry to worthy pilgrims while Śaśiśekhara stands as vigilant protector, moon crest shining, trident-bearing, warding off unseen dangers at the threshold of the sacred city.

Characters & Entities

• Śaśiśekhara (Śiva)
• Viśveśa (Śiva of Kāśī)
• Kāśī-kṣetra (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Access to Kāśī’s liberating power is framed as grace-led—authorized by Viśveśa and protected by Śiva Himself.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Viśveśa/Viśvanātha of Kāśī, the presiding Lord whose compassion governs entry into the kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; it emphasizes divine permission (anujñā) and protection for rightful entrants.