Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 94

Devanagari script

धर्माधर्मगुणच्छेत्त्री धत्तूरकुसुमप्रिया । धर्मेशी धर्मशास्त्रज्ञा धनधान्यसमृद्धिकृत्

Transliteration

dharmādharmaguṇacchettrī dhattūrakusumapriyā | dharmeśī dharmaśāstrajñā dhanadhānyasamṛddhikṛt

Translation

She cuts through the qualities and entanglements of both dharma and adharma, transcending their bonds. She delights in dhattūra blossoms. She is the sovereign of Dharma, knower of dharma-śāstra, and the maker of abundance in wealth and grain.

Word by Word

• धर्म-अधर्म-गुण-च्छेत्त्री: cutter of the qualities of dharma and adharma
• धर्म-अधर्म-गुण-च्छेत्त्री: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + छेत्त्री (छिद् धातु, तृच्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषसमासः (धर्माधर्मयोः गुणान् छिनत्ति)

• धत्तूर-कुसुम-प्रिया: fond of datura flowers
• धत्तूर-कुसुम-प्रिया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धत्तूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धत्तूरकुसुमं प्रियं यस्याः)

• धर्म-ईशी: mistress/lord of dharma
• धर्म-ईशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशी (ईश् धातु/ईश-प्रातिपदिक, ङीप्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य ईशी/स्वामिनी)

• धर्म-शास्त्र-ज्ञा: knower of dharma-śāstra
• धर्म-शास्त्र-ज्ञा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञा (ज्ञा धातु, क्त/अण्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मशास्त्रं जानाति)

• धन-धान्य-समृद्धि-कृत्: maker of prosperity in wealth and grain
• धन-धान्य-समृद्धि-कृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + समृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातु, क्विप्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धनधान्ययोः समृद्धिं करोति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśī-khaṇḍa context, commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī Gaṅgā/Śiva-sannidhi

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṅgā as a fierce-compassionate goddess holding a symbolic blade of discernment cutting chains labeled ‘dharma’ and ‘adharma’; dhattūra flowers offered at a Śiva-liṅga on a Kāśī ghāṭa; granaries and overflowing jars indicate abundance.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Divine both governs dharma and transcends the binding opposites of dharma and adharma, granting clarity and prosperity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse sits within Kāśī-khaṇḍa’s praise tradition, resonant with Kāśī’s Śaiva-Śākta worship culture.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dhattūra flowers are referenced as a beloved offering, suggesting Śaiva/Śākta pūjā usage.