Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

जय सर्वबलाधीश बलाराति बलप्रद । बलाकोज्ज्वल दंताग्र बालाबालपराकम

Transliteration

jaya sarvabalādhīśa balārāti balaprada | balākojjvala daṃtāgra bālābālaparākama

Translation

Victory to You, lord over all strength—slayer of the foes of strength, and giver of strength. The tip of Your tusk shines bright like a white heron; Your valor is irresistible to both the young and the mighty.

Word by Word

• जय: hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय; संबोधनार्थे

• सर्व-बल-अधीश: lord of all strength
• सर्व-बल-अधीश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); ‘सर्वेषां बलानाम् अधीशः’ (lord of all powers/strengths)

• बल-अराति: foe of (others’) strength
• बल-अराति: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); ‘बलस्य अरातिः’ (enemy of strength; i.e., destroyer of opponents’ strength)

• बल-प्रद: giver of strength
• बल-प्रद: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्र+दा धातु + क/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); ‘बलं प्रददाति’ (giver of strength)

• बलाक-उज्ज्वल: radiant white like a crane
• बलाक-उज्ज्वल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलाक (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (in address); ‘बलाक इव उज्ज्वलः’ (bright like a heron/white as a crane)

• दन्त-अग्र: tusk-tip
• दन्त-अग्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed/epithet); ‘दन्तस्य अग्रं’ (tip of the tusk/tooth)

• बाल-अबाल-पराक्रम: whose valour (protects) children and adults
• बाल-अबाल-पराक्रम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अबाल (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); द्वन्द्वः ‘बालाश्च अबालाश्च’ (children and non-children/adults) + पराक्रमः (valour)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (threshold/auxiliary shrine context)

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A powerful elephant-headed deity stands as lord of strength, tusk-tip gleaming white; devotees—young and strong alike—seek his blessing before entering a Kāśī shrine; defeated ‘foes of strength’ appear as shadowy obstacles dissolving.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine strength is both protective and empowering; Gaṇeśa removes the forces that weaken resolve and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred geography; the praise supports auspicious worship within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the verse functions as protective stuti for spiritual and worldly undertakings.