Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

धर्मेश्वरं च वीरेशं गच्छेत्कामेश्वरं ततः । विश्वकर्मेश्वरं चाथ मणिकर्णीश्वरं ततः

Transliteration

dharmeśvaraṃ ca vīreśaṃ gacchetkāmeśvaraṃ tataḥ | viśvakarmeśvaraṃ cātha maṇikarṇīśvaraṃ tataḥ

Translation

Qu’on se rende à Dharmeśvara et à Vīreśa; puis à Kāmeśvara. Ensuite, qu’on avance vers Viśvakarmeśvara, et après cela vers Maṇikarṇīśvara.

Word by Word

• धर्मेश्वरम्: Dharmeśvara
• धर्मेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य ईश्वरः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वीरेशम्: Vīreśa
• वीरेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वीरस्य/वीराणाम् ईशः)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कामेश्वरम्: Kāmeśvara
• कामेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कामस्य ईश्वरः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे (thereafter)

• विश्वकर्मेश्वरम्: Viśvakarmeśvara
• विश्वकर्मेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्वकर्मणः ईश्वरः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Adverbial (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/next)

• मणिकर्णीश्वरम्: Maṇikarṇīśvara
• मणिकर्णीश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणिकर्णी (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मणिकर्ण्याः ईश्वरः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे (thereafter)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly as Skanda teaching Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmeśvara → Vīreśa → Kāmeśvara → Viśvakarmeśvara → Maṇikarṇīśvara (Kāśī circuit segment)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Five shrines in sequence: Dharmeśvara with dharma-wheel motif, Vīreśa with heroic banner, Kāmeśvara with floral/heart imagery subdued into devotion, Viśvakarmeśvara with tools/architectural motifs, Maṇikarṇīśvara near Maṇikarṇikā ghāṭ with cremation-ground symbolism and lamps—yet suffused with Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Dharmeśvara
• Vīreśa
• Kāmeśvara
• Viśvakarmeśvara
• Maṇikarṇīśvara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pilgrimage in Kāśī is a disciplined progression through Śiva’s many names, integrating dharma, valor, desire, and divine craftsmanship into devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī liṅgas: Dharmeśvara, Vīreśa, Kāmeśvara, Viśvakarmeśvara, and Maṇikarṇīśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Continue the yātrā by visiting these liṅgas in the stated order.