Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

दुर्गो नाम गणाध्यक्षः सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनः । क्षेत्रस्य दक्षिणे भागे पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

durgo nāma gaṇādhyakṣaḥ sarvadurgatināśanaḥ | kṣetrasya dakṣiṇe bhāge pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ

Translation

Il est un chef des Gaṇa nommé Durga, destructeur de toute infortune. Dans la partie méridionale du kṣetra sacré, qu’on l’honore avec effort et ferveur.

Word by Word

• दुर्गः: Durga (name of a gaṇa-leader)
• दुर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नाम: namely
• नाम: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (particle) ‘namely’

• गणाध्यक्षः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणाध्यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण-अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनः: destroyer of all misfortunes
• सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-दुर्गति-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गणाध्यक्षः/दुर्गः)

• क्षेत्रस्य: of the sacred area
• क्षेत्रस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: in the southern
• दक्षिणे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भागे)

• भागे: part/region
• भागे: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पूजनीयः: worthy of worship
• पूजनीयः: Vidhi (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पूज् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेयभावः ‘worthy to be worshipped’

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्नतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb) ‘with effort’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Durga (gaṇa-adhyakṣa) shrine in southern Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/seekers mapping the kṣetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A protective gaṇa-chief (Durga) stands at the southern boundary of the sacred field, fierce yet benevolent; pilgrims approach with lamps and offerings, seeking removal of misfortune; the cityscape of Kāśī recedes behind.

Characters & Entities

• Durga (Gaṇādhyakṣa)
• Kāśī-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī’s sacred space is directionally protected; honoring guardian powers helps dispel misfortune and uphold dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The southern sector of Kāśī-kṣetra, marked by the worship of the gaṇa-chief Durga as a protective presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā—worship Durga Gaṇādhyakṣa in the southern part of the kṣetra with diligence.