Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

स्वयं व्यापारयामास रक्षार्थं शशिशेखरः । अनुज्ञातप्रवेशानां विश्वेशेन कृपावता

Transliteration

svayaṃ vyāpārayāmāsa rakṣārthaṃ śaśiśekharaḥ | anujñātapraveśānāṃ viśveśena kṛpāvatā

Translation

Śaśiśekhara, le Seigneur au croissant de lune (Śiva), prit Lui-même en charge la garde, afin que soient protégés ceux dont l’entrée fut accordée par le compatissant Viśveśa.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मार्थे/स्वार्थे (reflexive adverb: 'oneself')

• व्यापारयामास: caused to act / set in motion
• व्यापारयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vy-ā-√pṛ (धातु) + causative (णिच्) + लिट्
• Form: धातु: √पृ (पूरणे/प्रेरणे) with उपसर्ग vy-ā; णिच् (causative); लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रक्षायाः अर्थः = for the sake of protection); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• शशिशेखरः: Śaśiśekhara (Śiva, 'moon-crested')
• शशिशेखरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśi (प्रातिपदिक) + śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (शशिः एव शेखरः यस्य/शशिशेखरः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अनुज्ञातप्रवेशानाम्: of those permitted to enter
• अनुज्ञातप्रवेशानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त) + praveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अनुज्ञातः प्रवेशः येषाम् = those whose entry is permitted); बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक, contextually 'people')

• विश्वेशेन: by Viśveśa (Lord of the universe)
• विश्वेशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (विश्वस्य ईशः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• कृपावता: compassionate
• कृपावता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'viśveśena')

Speaker

Skanda (contextual, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra), Viśveśvara

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within the luminous precincts of Kāśī, Viśveśa compassionately grants entry to worthy pilgrims while Śaśiśekhara stands as vigilant protector, moon crest shining, trident-bearing, warding off unseen dangers at the threshold of the sacred city.

Characters & Entities

• Śaśiśekhara (Śiva)
• Viśveśa (Śiva of Kāśī)
• Kāśī-kṣetra (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Access to Kāśī’s liberating power is framed as grace-led—authorized by Viśveśa and protected by Śiva Himself.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Viśveśa/Viśvanātha of Kāśī, the presiding Lord whose compassion governs entry into the kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; it emphasizes divine permission (anujñā) and protection for rightful entrants.