Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

वाराणस्यां महादेवः प्रथमं तीर्थमुच्यते । तदुत्तरे महाकूपः सारस्वतपदप्रदः

Transliteration

vārāṇasyāṃ mahādevaḥ prathamaṃ tīrthamucyate | taduttare mahākūpaḥ sārasvatapadapradaḥ

Translation

In Vārāṇasī, the tīrtha called Mahādeva is spoken of as the foremost. To its north is the great well, Mahākūpa, which bestows the rank and attainment of Sarasvatī—sacred learning and eloquence.

Word by Word

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + देवः (कर्मधारय)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage spot
• तीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• तत्-उत्तरे: to its north / beyond it
• तत्-उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तस्य उत्तरे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महाकूपः: the great well
• महाकूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + कूपः (कर्मधारय)

• सारस्वतपदप्रदः: giver of the Sarasvata state/position
• सारस्वतपदप्रदः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारस्वत + पद + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सारस्वतस्य पदं ददाति इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahādeva-tīrtha; Mahākūpa

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī approaches the ‘Mahādeva’ tīrtha first, then walks north to a large ancient well (Mahākūpa) adorned with bilva leaves, lamps, and a subtle presence of Sarasvatī as vāg-devī blessing the devotee.

Characters & Entities

• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Mahādeva (tīrtha)
• Mahākūpa
• Sarasvatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī is mapped as a living sacred landscape where specific tīrthas confer distinct fruits—here, devotion to Mahādeva and reverence for Mahākūpa culminate in spiritualized learning and elevated status.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mahādeva tīrtha in Vārāṇasī, and the northern Mahākūpa (great well) associated with sārasvata (Sarasvatī-related) attainment.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; the verse functions as a tīrtha-listing with promised phala (benefit) from approaching/visiting the sites.