Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

सदक्षरं चादिरूपं विश्वरूपं परावरम् । वरं वरेण्यं वरदं शाश्वतं शांतमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

sadakṣaraṃ cādirūpaṃ viśvarūpaṃ parāvaram | varaṃ vareṇyaṃ varadaṃ śāśvataṃ śāṃtamīśvaram

Translation

C’est le véritable Impérissable, la forme originelle, la forme cosmique, au-delà du supérieur et de l’inférieur ; l’Excellent, le plus digne d’être choisi, le dispensateur de grâces—éternel, paisible, et le Seigneur.

Word by Word

• sat: true/eternal
• sat: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद) ‘सत्’ = सत्यम्/सद्भावः (as prior member)

• akṣaram: imperishable syllable
• akṣaram: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः = sad-akṣara (कर्मधारयः: ‘true/imperishable syllable’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ādi: primordial
• ādi: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद) ‘first/primordial’ (as prior member)

• rūpam: primordial form
• rūpam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः = ādi-rūpa (कर्मधारयः: ‘having primordial form’)

• viśva: universal
• viśva: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद) ‘all/universal’

• rūpam: universal-formed
• rūpam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः = viśva-rūpa (कर्मधारयः: ‘whose form is the universe’)

• para: higher
• para: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद) ‘higher/supreme’

• avaram: (beyond) higher and lower
• avaram: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः = para-avara (द्वन्द्वः: ‘higher and lower’, i.e., transcending both)

• varam: excellent
• varam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vareṇyam: most worthy
• vareṇyam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vareṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘to be chosen/most worthy’

• varadam: boon-giving
• varadam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः = vara-da (तत्पुरुषः: ‘giver of boons’)

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘eternal’

• śāṃtam: peaceful
• śāṃtam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃta (कृदन्त; √śam/शम्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘peaceful/appeased’

• īśvaram: the Lord
• īśvaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (apposition)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśī Khaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī (Viśveśvara-darśana)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A composite image of Śiva as Viśvarūpa: within His form appear worlds, rivers, stars; yet His face remains serene and peaceful. Devotees in Kāśī offer bilva and lamps, while a halo signifies akṣara-eternity.

Characters & Entities

• Oṃkāra (implied)
• Īśvara (Lord)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Praṇava is praised as the imperishable divine reality—both transcendent and immanent—worthy of supreme devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s spiritual framework is implied, where realization of the imperishable (akṣara) is linked with liberation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; the verse functions as a stotra-like characterization for contemplation and praise.