Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

ज्वालाजटिलिताकाशं प्रभाभासित दिङ्मुखम् । किमाख्यं किं स्वरूपं च किं प्रभावं भवांतक

Transliteration

jvālājaṭilitākāśaṃ prabhābhāsita diṅmukham | kimākhyaṃ kiṃ svarūpaṃ ca kiṃ prabhāvaṃ bhavāṃtaka

Translation

Its flames seem to tangle the very sky, and its radiance illumines the faces of all directions. What is it called, what is its true form, and what is its power, O Ender of worldly becoming?

Word by Word

• jvālā-jaṭilita-ākāśam: (that which has) sky made tangled with flames
• jvālā-jaṭilita-ākāśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvālā (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṭilita (कृदन्त; √jaṭ/jaṭa? ‘to be matted/entangled’) + ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• prabhā-bhāsita: illumined by radiance
• prabhā-bhāsita: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāsita (कृदन्त; √bhās ‘to shine/illumine’)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), विशेषण; (नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री) एकवचनं सन्दर्भानुसारं; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रभया भासितम्)

• diṅ-mukham: the faces/directions
• diṅ-mukham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दिशां मुखम् = direction-faces)

• kim-ākhyam: what is it called?
• kim-ākhyam: Prashna (Interrogative predicate/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक ‘name/epithet’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (किम् आख्यम् = what-named?)

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• svarūpam: its form/nature
• svarūpam: Prashna (Interrogative predicate/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• prabhāvam: power/effect
• prabhāvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhavāntaka: O destroyer of Bhava
• bhavāntaka: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य अन्तकः)

Speaker

Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A towering, flame-wreathed liṅga or pillar of light rises in Kāśī, its radiance washing over the ten directions as a devotee questions Śiva about its name, form, and power.

Characters & Entities

• Bhavānī (Pārvatī)
• Śiva (Bhavāntaka)
• Liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine presence is recognized by transforming light; knowing a tīrtha includes its name, form, and spiritual efficacy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śaileśvara in Kāśī, characterized by a blazing, direction-illuminating radiance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a theological inquiry preparing Śiva’s explanation.