Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

राजराजः स एवाभूत्सर्वेषां धनदः सताम् । स एव रुद्रमूर्तिश्च प्रेक्षिष्ट रिपुभी रणे

Transliteration

rājarājaḥ sa evābhūtsarveṣāṃ dhanadaḥ satām | sa eva rudramūrtiśca prekṣiṣṭa ripubhī raṇe

Translation

Er allein wurde zum König der Könige, zum Spender von Reichtum für alle Rechtschaffenen; und in der Schlacht erschien er als Rudra in Menschengestalt, furchterregend für die Feinde.

Word by Word

• राज-राजः: king of kings
• राज-राजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञां राजा)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (सामान्य), षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश

• धनदः: giver of wealth (Kubera)
• धनदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• रुद्र-मूर्तिः: an embodiment of Rudra
• रुद्र-मूर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य मूर्तिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• प्रेक्षिष्ट: he looked upon; he appeared (to be seen)
• प्रेक्षिष्ट: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रिपु-भीः: with fear of the enemy / as enemy-fear
• रिपु-भीः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु + भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रिपोः भीः)

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Twofold tableau: (1) the king distributing wealth to the righteous; (2) the same figure in battle blazing like Rudra, eyes fierce, enemies trembling.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Divodāsa (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma integrates generosity and fierce protection: nurturing the righteous while confronting adharma with Rudra-like resolve.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse belongs to the Kāśī/Vārāṇasī-centered adhyāya, glorifying the sacred city indirectly through the exalted qualities of its ruler.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the emphasis is on kingship, protection, and Śaiva valor.