Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

नागानागांसि चक्रुश्च तस्य नागबलीयसः । दनुजामनुजाकारं कृत्वा तं च सिषेविरे

Transliteration

nāgānāgāṃsi cakruśca tasya nāgabalīyasaḥ | danujāmanujākāraṃ kṛtvā taṃ ca siṣevire

Translation

Selbst die Nāgas wurden vor ihm gleichsam zu „Nicht-Nāgas“, gezähmt und gefügig, denn seine Macht übertraf die der Schlangen. Und die Dānavas nahmen Menschengestalt an und dienten ihm ergeben.

Word by Word

• नागान्: Nāgas (serpents)
• नागान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• अगान्: mountains
• अगान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म; ‘अग’ = पर्वत

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• असि: swords
• असि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म; ‘असि’ = तलवार

• चक्रुः: they made
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• नागबलीयसः: of (one) stronger than the Nāgas
• नागबलीयसः: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग + बलीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः ‘नागेभ्यः बलीयान्’ (comparative stem बलीयस्)

• दनुजामनुजाकारम्: a human-like form (for the Danujas)
• दनुजामनुजाकारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दनुज + मनुज + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः ‘दनुजानां मनुजाकारः’ (having human form among Danujas)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘कृत्वा’ = having made

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• सिषेविरे: they served/worshipped
• सिषेविरे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nāgas with lowered hoods and softened gaze coil respectfully at the deity’s feet; Dānavas disguised in human attire stand with folded hands offering service—fans, lamps, and offerings—signifying the conversion of raw power into devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Nāgāḥ
• Dānavāḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharmic power is established, even dangerous or oppositional forces are pacified and redirected into service.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse participates in the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s larger glorification of sacred order, without naming a particular tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.