Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 79

Devanagari script

इत्थं विघ्नजिता सर्वा पुरी स्वात्मवशीकृता । सपौरा सावरोधा च सनृपा निजमायया

Transliteration

itthaṃ vighnajitā sarvā purī svātmavaśīkṛtā | sapaurā sāvarodhā ca sanṛpā nijamāyayā

Translation

In this manner, by his own power of māyā, Vighnajit brought the entire city under his control—together with its citizens, its inner quarters, and even its king.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this way
• इत्थम्: Adhikarana (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (manner adverb)

• विघ्नजिता: having conquered obstacles
• विघ्नजिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (जि-धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विघ्नान् जितवती)

• सर्वा: entire, all
• सर्वा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पुरी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्वात्मवशीकृता: brought under control by his own self/power
• स्वात्मवशीकृता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वशीकृत (वश्/वशि + कृ, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (स्वात्मना वशीकृता)

• सपौरा: together with its citizens
• सपौरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह) (उपसर्गवत्) + पौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (पौरैः सह)

• सावरोधा: together with the inner apartments/retinue
• सावरोधा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह) + अवरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (अवरोधैः/अन्तःपुरैः सह)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• सनृपा: together with the king
• सनृपा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह) + नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (नृपेण सह)

• निजमायया: by (his) own magical power
• निजमायया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (निजा माया)

Speaker

Narrator (Skanda, in Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-purī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A shadowy figure ‘Vighnajit’ casts a spell over Kāśī: citizens’ eyes glaze, palace women’s quarters fall silent, the king appears enthralled; the cityscape of ghats and spires is under an uncanny haze.

Characters & Entities

• Vighnajit
• Purī (the city—Kāśī/Vārāṇasī implied)
• Nṛpa (the King)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly authority is ultimately subordinate to divine power; the sacred city’s destiny is guided by higher forces.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as the overarching sacred city, though no single tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it presents a theological narrative about divine māyā and control.