Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

सर्वज्ञेन परिज्ञातौ चांचल्याल्लोचनोद्भवात् । कटाक्षिताथ देवेन दुर्गादुर्गारिघातिनी

Transliteration

sarvajñena parijñātau cāṃcalyāllocanodbhavāt | kaṭākṣitātha devena durgādurgārighātinī

Translation

They were at once known to the all-knowing Lord—by the unsteady movement that arose in their eyes—and then Durgā, slayer of the foes of Dharma’s fortress, cast her glance upon them.

Word by Word

• सर्वज्ञेन: by the omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञेन: Karana (Instrument/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• परिज्ञातौ: were recognized
• परिज्ञातौ: Karma (in passive; the ones known)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle) from परि+ज्ञा; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन; कर्मणि/भावे 'were recognized/known'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• आञ्चल्यात्: from (their) restlessness
• आञ्चल्यात्: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आञ्चल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगभेद), पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• लोचन-उद्भवात्: arising from the eye
• लोचन-उद्भवात्: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'लोचनात् उद्भवः' (arising from the eye)

• कटाक्षिता: she cast a sidelong glance
• कटाक्षिता: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कटाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle) from √कृ with noun-prefix sense 'कटाक्षं कृतवती/कृता'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• देवेन: by the god
• देवेन: Karana (Instrument/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• दुर्गा-दुर्ग-अरिघातिनी: Durgā, slayer of enemies
• दुर्गा-दुर्ग-अरिघातिनी: Karta (Subject/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + घातिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'दुर्गायाः दुर्गस्य च अरिणां घातिनी' (slayer of enemies of Durgā and of the fort/difficulty)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (Devī’s protective sphere)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The all-knowing Lord detects the intruders by their flickering eyes; Durgā, destroyer of the enemies of dharma’s fortress, turns and fixes them with a decisive glance.

Characters & Entities

• Sarvajña Deva (all-knowing Lord, implied Śiva)
• Durgā
• Vidala
• Utpala

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Nothing is hidden from the divine: inner agitation reveals itself, and Devī’s protective glance restores dharma by exposing and ending deceit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s Mahātmya is reinforced as a space under Śiva’s omniscience and Durgā’s guardianship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse emphasizes recognition of evil and the Goddess’s decisive response.