Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

देवतानामधिष्ठानं दुर्गासुरपराक्रमः । दुर्गाया विजयश्चाथ तत ओंकारवर्णनम्

Transliteration

devatānāmadhiṣṭhānaṃ durgāsuraparākramaḥ | durgāyā vijayaścātha tata oṃkāravarṇanam

Translation

Puis sont décrits le siège divin des dieux, l’assaut farouche du Durgā-asura et la victoire de la Déesse Durgā ; et ensuite vient l’exposé de l’Oṃkāra (Om).

Word by Word

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अधिष्ठानम्: abode/seat
• अधिष्ठानम्: Karta (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दुर्गासुरपराक्रमः: the valor of Durgāsura
• दुर्गासुरपराक्रमः: Karta (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गासुर + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दुर्गासुरस्य पराक्रमः)

• दुर्गायाः: of Durgā
• दुर्गायाः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• विजयः: victory
• विजयः: Karta (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरार्थक): then/thereupon

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक): thereafter

• ओंकारवर्णनम्: the description of Oṃkāra
• ओंकारवर्णनम्: Karta (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओंकार + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ओंकारस्य वर्णनम्)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Devatānām Adhiṣṭhāna; Oṃkāra-sthāna (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Purāṇic audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dramatic scene at the ‘seat of the gods’: devas assembled in a radiant pavilion; the Durgā-asura charging; Devī Durgā defeating him; then a serene concluding tableau of Oṃkāra as a luminous glyph above Kāśī’s riverfront, unifying the scene into peace.

Characters & Entities

• Devatās
• Durgā
• Durgāsura
• Oṃkāra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine protection and victory of Śakti are linked with sacred space; mantra (Oṃ) and place (Kāśī) together form a path of purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A ‘deities’ seat’ (adhiṣṭhāna) in Kāśī is indicated, alongside themes connected with Durgā and Oṃkāra; the verse is a heading for upcoming details.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; it introduces Oṃkāra-varṇana, implying japa and contemplation as forthcoming practices.