Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 63

Devanagari script

द्वौ भवंतावहं चैकश्चलौ जयपराजयौ । स्थानार्थं युध्यतः सत्त्वात्स्वर्गो वा दुर्गमेव वा

Transliteration

dvau bhavaṃtāvahaṃ caikaścalau jayaparājayau | sthānārthaṃ yudhyataḥ sattvātsvargo vā durgameva vā

Translation

“You two and I alone—victory and defeat are uncertain and shifting. If we fight for this place with true courage, it will lead either to heaven, or else to a hard-to-cross, terrible end.”

Word by Word

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक

• भवन्तौ: you two
• भवन्तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; आदरार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; ‘you two’ (honorific)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• चलौ: variable, uncertain
• चलौ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; ‘unstable/variable’

• जयपराजयौ: victory and defeat
• जयपराजयौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय + पराजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (victory and defeat)

• स्थानार्थम्: for the sake of a place/position
• स्थानार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (for the sake of a place/position)

• युध्यतः: of the two fighting
• युध्यतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; ‘of the two who are fighting’

• सत्त्वात्: due to courage/strength of spirit
• सत्त्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

• स्वर्गः: heaven
• स्वर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• दुर्गम्: a fort/stronghold
• दुर्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Niyamaka (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle ‘indeed/only’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

Speaker

Śyena (hawk)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tense standoff: one hawk facing two birds; the composition conveys shifting fortune—perhaps a fluttering banner or swirling wind—while the ‘gate/stronghold’ looms nearby.

Characters & Entities

• Śyena (hawk)
• Pārāvata couple (implied)
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

One should act with courage despite uncertain outcomes; dharma is measured by inner strength, not guaranteed victory.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse discusses ethical action (valor in struggle) rather than ritual.