Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

अरूपाय सरूपाय नानारूपधराय च । विरूपाक्षाय विधये विधिविष्णुस्तुताय च

Transliteration

arūpāya sarūpāya nānārūpadharāya ca | virūpākṣāya vidhaye vidhiviṣṇustutāya ca

Translation

ನಿರಾಕಾರನಿಗೂ ಸಾಕಾರನಿಗೂ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ; ಅನೇಕ ರೂಪಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸುವವನಿಗೆ; ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಧಾರಿ ವಿರೂಪಾಕ್ಷನಾದ ವಿಧಾತೆಗೆ— ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ-ವಿಷ್ಣುಗಳೂ ಸ್ತುತಿಸುವವನಿಗೆ ನಮಃ।

Word by Word

• अरूपाय: to the formless one
• अरूपाय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शिव)

• सरूपाय: to the one with form
• सरूपाय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नाना-रूप-धराय: to the bearer of many forms
• नाना-रूप-धराय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु, ण्वुल्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): नानारूपाणि धरति इति

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

• विरूपाक्षाय: to Virūpākṣa (the odd/unique-eyed one)
• विरूपाक्षाय: Sampradāna (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य (epithet of Śiva)

• विधये: to the ordainer (Vidhī)
• विधये: Sampradāna (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; शिवस्य नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• विधि-विष्णु-स्तुताय: to the one praised by Brahmā and Viṣṇu
• विधि-विष्णु-स्तुताय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुत (स्तु धातु, क्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): विधिना विष्णुना च स्तुतः (praised by Brahmā and Viṣṇu)

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

Speaker

Jaigīṣavya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A theological vision rendered visually: Śiva simultaneously suggested as aniconic (liṅga-like radiance) and iconic (three-eyed, crescent-bearing), with Brahmā and Viṣṇu shown in the background offering praise; Jaigīṣavya recites in the foreground.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Virūpākṣa)
• Brahmā (Vidhi)
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Supreme can be approached as nirguṇa (formless) and saguṇa (with attributes); Śiva encompasses both.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions as a Kāśī-context stotra, reinforcing Kāśī’s identity as Śiva’s supreme abode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it is a stuti usable for recitation in Śiva-pūjā and pilgrimage worship in Kāśī.