Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

उन्मूलितो महामूलो महानिलरयेण यः । चत्वरे चैत्यवृक्षोयं महोत्पातं प्रशंसति

Transliteration

unmūlito mahāmūlo mahānilarayeṇa yaḥ | catvare caityavṛkṣoyaṃ mahotpātaṃ praśaṃsati

Translation

Cet arbre-sanctuaire sur la place publique, aux racines profondes et pourtant arraché par un grand souffle de vent, proclame un immense présage de calamité.

Word by Word

• उन्मूलितः: uprooted
• उन्मूलितः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√मूल्/मूल (धातु; caus./denom sense)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘uprooted’

• महामूलः: having great roots
• महामूलः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महच्च तत् मूलम्)

• महानिलरयेण: by the force of a great wind
• महानिलरयेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक) + रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (महानिलस्य रयः)

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• चत्वरे: in the square/crossroads
• चत्वरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत্বর (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चैत्यवृक्षः: the sacred shrine-tree
• चैत्यवृक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (चैत्यस्य वृक्षः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महोत्पातम्: a great portent/calamity
• महोत्पातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् उत्पातः)

• प्रशंसति: indicates/proclaims
• प्रशंसति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a bustling crossroads of Kāśī, a venerable shrine-tree with a small platform and lamps is torn out by a violent wind; roots exposed; people recoil; offerings scatter; dust swirls around nearby shrines.

Characters & Entities

• caityavṛkṣa (sacred tree)
• catvara (public square)
• mahānila (great wind)
• mahotpāta (great omen)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When even long-established sacred supports are shaken, it signals the need for renewed dharma, communal protection, and sincere devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, where sacred trees and public spaces are part of the city’s living religious geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; the verse identifies the event as a major omen (mahotpāta).