Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

कामरूपाक्रियाशक्तिः कमलोत्पलमालिनी । कूटस्था करुणाकांता कर्मयाना कलावती

Transliteration

kāmarūpākriyāśaktiḥ kamalotpalamālinī | kūṭasthā karuṇākāṃtā karmayānā kalāvatī

Translation

O Devī, assuming forms at will, you are the very power of sacred action; garlanded with lotus and blue lotus. Steadfast and unshaken, lovely with compassion, you set beings upon the path shaped by their karma, and you are rich in divine arts and skills.

Word by Word

• काम: desire; as wished
• काम: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• रूप: form
• रूप: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• अक्रिया: non-action; effortless state
• अक्रिया: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग; नञ्-पूर्वपद (अक्रिया = non-action)

• शक्तिः: power (of assuming desired forms and effortless action)
• शक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (कामरूप-अक्रिया-शक्तिः)

• कमलोत्पलमालिनी: garlanded with lotuses and water-lilies
• कमलोत्पलमालिनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + उत्पल + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कमलोत्पलानां मालिनी)

• कूटस्था: unchanging; abiding on the summit
• कूटस्था: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूट + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कूटे स्थिता/कूटस्थ)

• करुणाकांता: lovely with compassion
• करुणाकांता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (करुणया कान्ता/मनोज्ञा)

• कर्मयाना: moving by/along righteous action
• कर्मयाना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्म + यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मणा याना/कर्ममार्गगामिनी)

• कलावती: possessing arts; endowed with skill
• कलावती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कला + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (कलाः सन्ति अस्याः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer figure(s) in the chapter’s frame (implicit)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devī garlanded with lotus and blue-lotus, simultaneously serene and dynamic—unchanging center with radiating forms—guiding devotees along a luminous path shaped by karma.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Śakti (as principle)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess is both transcendent (steadfast) and immanent (power of action), guiding beings through karma while offering compassion and grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The hymn is embedded in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative world of Kāśī, where divine power is experienced as immediate and liberating.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Ritual/action (kriyā) is referenced, but no specific vrata or procedure is detailed in this line.