Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

मूर्तिं संस्थाप्य शुभदां भास्वतः शुभलक्षणाम् । दक्षिणेन विशालाक्ष्या दृढभक्तिसमन्वितः

Transliteration

mūrtiṃ saṃsthāpya śubhadāṃ bhāsvataḥ śubhalakṣaṇām | dakṣiṇena viśālākṣyā dṛḍhabhaktisamanvitaḥ

Translation

Ayant établi une image de Bhāsvat, le Soleil rayonnant, auspiceuse et dispensatrice de grâces, ornée de signes sacrés, il se tint au sud de Viśālākṣī, animé d’une dévotion inébranlable.

Word by Word

• मूर्तिम्: an image/form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संस्थाप्य: having installed
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव/gerund)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• शुभदाम्: bestowing auspiciousness
• शुभदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मूर्तिम्)

• भास्वतः: of the radiant one (Sun)
• भास्वतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभलक्षणाम्: having auspicious marks
• शुभलक्षणाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मूर्तिम्)

• दक्षिणेन: with the right (hand/side)
• दक्षिणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; साधन/सहचर्ये (by/with the right side/hand)

• विशालाक्ष्या: with (one) wide-eyed (a woman/consort)
• विशालाक्ष्या: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशालाक्षी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सहकारक (accompaniment)

• दृढभक्तिसमन्वितः: endowed with firm devotion
• दृढभक्तिसमन्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + भक्ति + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the sage)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vṛddhāditya (near Viśālākṣī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage installs a radiant Sun image with auspicious marks; he stands in devotion to the south of the Viśālākṣī shrine, with Kāśī’s temple skyline and ritual implements around.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāsvat (Sūrya)
• Viśālākṣī
• Vārāṇasī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred images installed with devotion in a holy kṣetra become sources of auspiciousness and spiritual attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Viśālākṣī area in Kāśī, indicating the locale connected to Vṛddhāditya/Sūrya worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mūrti-saṃsthāpana (icon installation) and devoted worship in a specified sacred location/direction.