Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

गुणनीयचरित्रा च गायत्री गिरिशप्रिया । गूढरूपा गुणवती गुर्वी गौरववर्धिनी

Transliteration

guṇanīyacaritrā ca gāyatrī giriśapriyā | gūḍharūpā guṇavatī gurvī gauravavardhinī

Translation

Ses actes sont dignes d’être célébrés ; elle est Gāyatrī, aimée de Girīśa (Śiva). Sa forme est cachée et subtile ; elle est pleine de vertus—majestueuse, et qui accroît dignité et honneur.

Word by Word

• गुणनीयचरित्रा: whose conduct is praiseworthy
• गुणनीयचरित्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणनीय (कृदन्त; √गुण्/गण्? (धातु) + णीय-प्रत्यय; ‘to be praised/considered’) + चरित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गिरिशप्रिया: beloved of Girīśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशप्रिया: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गूढरूपा: of hidden form
• गूढरूपा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ (कृदन्त; √गुह् (धातु) + क्त-प्रत्यय) + रूपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गुणवती: possessing virtues
• गुणवती: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• गुर्वी: venerable; weighty
• गुर्वी: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. of गुरु)

• गौरववर्धिनी: increaser of dignity/glory
• गौरववर्धिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धिनी (कृदन्त; √वृध् (धातु) + णिनि/िणी-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; णिनि-प्रत्ययान्ता, विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa) speaking to Agastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśīkṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devī is praised as Gāyatrī and Śiva’s beloved—depict a subtle, veiled radiance emerging from mantra syllables, with Śiva’s presence as approving witness; the hidden form suggests aniconic light within a yantra or halo.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Gāyatrī
• Girīśa (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Devī is both mantra (Gāyatrī) and living virtue; honoring her refines one’s dignity and inner nobility.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred frame; the verse functions as part of the city’s devotional curriculum centered on mantra and stuti.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit instruction; by naming her as Gāyatrī, it implicitly supports Gāyatrī-japa and reverent praise.