Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

ज्ञानरूपोह मेवात्र द्रवमूर्तिं विधाय च । जाड्यविध्वंसनं कुर्यां कुर्यां ज्ञानोपदेशनम्

Transliteration

jñānarūpoha mevātra dravamūrtiṃ vidhāya ca | jāḍyavidhvaṃsanaṃ kuryāṃ kuryāṃ jñānopadeśanam

Translation

„Ich selbst bin von der Natur des Wissens; hier, in flüssiger Gestalt, werde ich die Stumpfheit vernichten und Unterweisung im wahren Wissen gewähren.“

Word by Word

• ज्ञानरूपः: (I am) of the form of knowledge
• ज्ञानरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान-रूप (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: ज्ञान + रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानस्य रूपम्)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• द्रवमूर्तिम्: a liquid form
• द्रवमूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव-मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: द्रव + मूर्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (द्रवा मूर्तिः)

• विधाय: having made
• विधाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) ‘having made/arranged’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• जाड्यविध्वंसनम्: destruction of dullness
• जाड्यविध्वंसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाड्य-विध्वंसन (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: जाड्य + विध्वंसन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जाड्यस्य विध्वंसनम्)

• कुर्याम्: I should do
• कुर्याम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कुर्याम्: I should do
• कुर्याम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphasis)

• ज्ञानोपदेशनम्: instruction in knowledge
• ज्ञानोपदेशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान-उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: ज्ञान + उपदेश)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानस्य उपदेशः)

Speaker

Śiva (speaking in first person; deduced from immediate context of boons given by Śambhu)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Jñānoda (as jñāna-drava-mūrti)

Type: kund

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva’s declaration is visualized as a luminous presence above a well or water-source; the water glows as ‘liquid knowledge’, with ripples forming syllables or rays that dispel a dark haze of dullness around seekers.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Jñāna
• Jāḍya (dullness/ignorance)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s grace appears as knowledge itself, dissolving ignorance and guiding the seeker toward liberation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Jñānoda/Śivartārtha sacred waters in Kāśī, described as Śiva’s liquid embodiment of knowledge.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is commanded; the verse explains the metaphysical purpose of the tīrtha—destroying dullness and teaching knowledge.