Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

गुह्यानां परमं गुह्यं क्षेत्रेऽस्मिश्चिंतितप्रदम् । कलौ कलुषबुद्धीनां गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

guhyānāṃ paramaṃ guhyaṃ kṣetre'smiściṃtitapradam | kalau kaluṣabuddhīnāṃ gopanīyaṃ prayatnataḥ

Translation

This is the most secret among secrets in this sacred field (Kāśī), a bestower of one’s cherished desires. Therefore, in the Kali age—among those whose minds are tainted—it should be carefully guarded.

Word by Word

• गुह्यानाम्: of secrets
• गुह्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• गुह्यम्: secret (thing)
• गुह्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred field (kṣetra)
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), त्रिलिङ्ग (Pronoun)

• चिन्तितप्रदम्: granting what is desired/thought of
• चिन्तितप्रदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्तित (कृदन्त; √चिन्त् धातु) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• कलौ: in the Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Time/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• कलुषबुद्धीनाम्: of those with impure intellects
• कलुषबुद्धीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलुष (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine; बुद्धि)

• गोपनीयम्: to be kept secret
• गोपनीयम्: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपनीय (कृदन्त; √गुप् धातु, भाव्य/अनियत-कर्तरि-णीयत्)
• Form: णीयत्-प्रत्ययान्त; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort; carefully
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थे (ablatival adverb: 'from/with effort')

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pārvatī (Gaurī)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva (as narrator) intimates to Pārvatī that Kāśī holds a supreme secret that grants desired boons, but must be guarded in Kali-yuga; the atmosphere is hushed, lamp-lit, and protective.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Avimukta Kṣetra)
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest sacred truths about Kāśī are powerful and wish-fulfilling, and must be approached with purity and discretion, especially in Kali-yuga.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī Kṣetra—also known as Avimukta, the never-abandoned sacred field of Śiva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is prescribed here; the verse emphasizes guarding and preserving a sacred secret (rahasya) with care.