Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

पितामहस्य वचनाद्दिवोदासे महीपतौ । धर्मेण शासति पुरीं क उपायो विधीयताम्

Transliteration

pitāmahasya vacanāddivodāse mahīpatau | dharmeṇa śāsati purīṃ ka upāyo vidhīyatām

Translation

Da auf Geheiß des Pitāmaha (Brahmā) König Divodāsa die Stadt gemäß dem Dharma regiert, welches Mittel soll nun erdacht werden?

Word by Word

• पितामहस्य: of Brahmā (grandfather)
• पितामहस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वचनात्: from the word/command
• वचनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• दिवोदासे: in/when (king) Divodāsa
• दिवोदासे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवोदास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• महीपतौ: (as) the king
• महीपतौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिवोदासे इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• धर्मेण: by righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शासति: rules/governs
• शासति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कः: what?/which?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; प्रश्नार्थक

• उपायः: means, strategy
• उपायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधीयताम्: let (it) be arranged/devised
• विधीयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Śiva (Devadeva) (contextual continuation of reply)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva reflects on the obstacle: Divodāsa rules Kāśī righteously by Brahmā’s word; the question arises—what dharmic means can be devised?

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Divodāsa
• Kāśī (implied city)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is portrayed as binding and authoritative—even divine plans must account for the legitimacy of righteous rule established by Brahmā’s word.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī/Vārāṇasī as a city whose governance and sanctity are central to the narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it raises a political-dharmic dilemma about rightful rule and the means to proceed.