Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 81

Devanagari script

किमिदं देवदेवेन सर्वज्ञेन त्वया विभो । क्रियते जगतां धात्रा सर्वपापहराऽव्यय

Transliteration

kimidaṃ devadevena sarvajñena tvayā vibho | kriyate jagatāṃ dhātrā sarvapāpaharā'vyaya

Translation

Was ist dies, das du tust, o Herr — Gott der Götter, Allwissender, Erhalter der Welten, Tilger aller Sünden, Unvergänglicher?

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• देवदेवेन: by the god of gods
• देवदेवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवः)

• सर्वज्ञेन: by the omniscient (one)
• सर्वज्ञेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), एकवचन; adjective qualifying implied 'त्वम्/विभु'

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (common), तृतीया (3rd case/करण), एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun

• विभो: O Lord
• विभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन

• क्रियते: is done / is being performed
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

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

• धात्रा: by the creator/sustainer
• धात्रा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), एकवचन

• सर्वपापहरा: O remover of all sins
• सर्वपापहरा: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानां हरः)

• अव्यय: O imperishable one
• अव्यय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Viṣṇu (Hṛṣīkeśa) addressing Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Primary listener(s) of Kāśīkhaṇḍa discourse (traditionally sages/Śaunaka line); immediate interlocutors in-scene: Viṣṇu addressing Śiva

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu, filled with wonder, addresses Śiva with epithets—Deva-deva, Sarvajña, Dhātṛ—questioning a mysterious act; the setting evokes Kāśī’s sanctity and Śiva’s austere presence.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu (Hṛṣīkeśa)
• Śiva (Devadeva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine actions may appear puzzling; inquiry made with reverence opens understanding of dharma and cosmic purpose.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting is within Kāśīkhaṇḍa; the broader glorification is of Kāśī as the stage of Śiva’s liberating acts.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; it introduces a theological question about Śiva’s conduct.