Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

नमो विश्वविधानज्ञे विधे विविधकारिणि । सुतं वंशकरं देहि तुष्टामुष्माद्व्रताच्छुभात्

Transliteration

namo viśvavidhānajñe vidhe vividhakāriṇi | sutaṃ vaṃśakaraṃ dehi tuṣṭāmuṣmādvratācchubhāt

Translation

Homage to You who know the ordering of the universe—O Ordainer, O doer of manifold works. Pleased by this auspicious vow of ours, grant us a son who will continue the lineage.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् निपातप्रयोगः; ‘नमः’ + चतुर्थी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः (salutation)

• विश्वविधानज्ञे: O knower of the ordering of the universe
• विश्वविधानज्ञे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + विधान + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विश्वस्य विधानं जानाति)

• विधे: O Creator (Vidhā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative-like usage with namas)

• विविधकारिणि: O doer of many kinds (of acts)
• विविधकारिणि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविध + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘कारिन्’ (doer); कर्मधारयः (विविधं करोति)

• सुतम्: a son
• सुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वंशकरम्: one who continues the lineage
• वंशकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वंश + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वंशं करोति/वर्धयति)

• देहि: grant/give
• देहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तुष्टा: being pleased/satisfied
• तुष्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √तुष् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; कर्तृविशेषणम् (speaker: wife)

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘from this’

• व्रतात्: from the vow
• व्रतात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• शुभात्: auspicious
• शुभात्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (व्रतात्)

Speaker

Skanda (introducing the mantra; deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The couple stands before the ācārya and the offered icon, palms joined, chanting a hymn to Vidhi/Brahmā as cosmic architect; a subtle vision of the ordered cosmos is suggested behind the deity.

Characters & Entities

• Vidhe (Ordainer/Creator epithet)
• Kāśī
• vrata
• suta (son)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The vow is anchored in surrender: desired worldly goods (progeny) are sought through devotion to the cosmic Ordainer and righteous conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The mantra appears within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa teaching, linking the vow’s efficacy to the sanctity of Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mantra-japa/prayer requesting a lineage-continuing son as the fruit of an auspicious vrata.