Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

तं भक्तं ध्यानमापन्नं दृढचित्तं शिवेक्षणे । कृतास्त्रमंत्रविन्यासं तं क्रांतुमशकन्न सः

Transliteration

taṃ bhaktaṃ dhyānamāpannaṃ dṛḍhacittaṃ śivekṣaṇe | kṛtāstramaṃtravinyāsaṃ taṃ krāṃtumaśakanna saḥ

Translation

But that devotee—absorbed in meditation, steadfast in the vision of Śiva, and fortified by the ordered placing of sacred mantras and protective rites—him he could not overpower.

Word by Word

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

• भक्तम्: the devotee
• भक्तम्: Karma (Apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karma (Object with आपन्नम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आपन्नम्: having entered/attained
• आपन्नम्: Visheshana (State/qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+पद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), द्वितीया-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; Past active participle, Accusative Singular Masculine (तम्/भक्तम् इति विशेषण)

• दृढचित्तम्: firm-minded
• दृढचित्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-चित्त (प्रातिपदिक; दृढ + चित्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular (तम् इति विशेषण)

• शिवेक्षणे: in the vision/contemplation of Śiva
• शिवेक्षणे: Adhikarana (Sphere/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + ईक्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कृतास्त्रमन्त्रविन्यासम्: who had arranged/placed weapon-mantras (protective rites)
• कृतास्त्रमन्त्रविन्यासम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-अस्त्र-मन्त्र-विन्यास (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + अस्त्र + मन्त्र + विन्यास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular (तम् इति विशेषण)

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

• क्रान्तुम्: to attack/overpower (lit. to step upon)
• क्रान्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अशकत्: was able
• अशकत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, Active, 3rd person, Singular

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• सः: he (the demon)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The tiger-form demon lunges but halts as if hitting an invisible barrier; inside, the devotee remains motionless in meditation, eyes half-closed, bathed in a subtle Śiva-aura; protective mantra-geometry implied around him.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Bhakta
• Mantra
• Astra-mantra-vinyāsa
• Duṃdubhi-nirhrāda (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady meditation on Śiva, supported by mantra-discipline, is presented as an inviolable spiritual protection against hostile forces.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly Kāśī’s sacred milieu (Kāśīkhaṇḍa); the verse highlights Śaiva practice rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Astra-mantra-vinyāsa (protective mantra placement/ritual arrangement) is referenced, alongside dhyāna focused on Śiva.