Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

प्रोतस्तेन त्रिशूलेन स च दैत्यो गजासुरः । छत्रीकृतमिवात्मानं मन्यमानो जगौ हरम्

Transliteration

protastena triśūlena sa ca daityo gajāsuraḥ | chatrīkṛtamivātmānaṃ manyamāno jagau haram

Translation

Empalé sur ce trishula, le daitya Gajāsura, s’imaginant devenu tel un parasol royal tenu en hauteur au-dessus de Śiva, s’adressa à Hara (Śiva).

Word by Word

• प्रोतः: pierced, impaled
• प्रोतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रो (√वे/√वय्) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle; ‘pierced/impaled’

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with that’

• त्रिशूलेन: with the trident
• त्रिशूलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental ‘with the trident’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गजासुरः: Gajāsura
• गजासुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासः (gaja-āsuraḥ) ‘elephant-demon’ (name)

• छत्रीकृतम्: made like an umbrella
• छत्रीकृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छत्री√कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; PPP ‘made into an umbrella/covered like an umbrella’

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मन्यमानः: thinking, considering
• मन्यमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु) + शानच् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; present participle (ātmanepada sense) ‘thinking/considering’

• जगौ: spoke, sang
• जगौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of address/speech

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; Kāśī Khaṇḍa narration, traditionally Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Primary interlocutors of Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame (traditionally Śaunaka/ṛṣis in Purāṇic setting; specific not stated in verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva stands serene with a raised triśūla; Gajāsura is impaled yet oddly composed, imagining himself as a royal parasol above Śiva; attendants and a Kāśī-like sacred backdrop suggest the kṣetra’s numinous atmosphere.

Characters & Entities

• Gajāsura
• Śiva (Hara)
• Triśūla (trident)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in defeat, pride can transform into devotion when one recognizes Śiva’s supreme position; the moment becomes an opening for surrender.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader frame is Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) Mahātmya in the Skanda Purāṇa, where Śiva’s līlās are narrated to magnify the sanctity of Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is a narrative setup for the ensuing dialogue and boon.