Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

विनायकाद्राजपुत्रात्किंचिद्रक्षोदिशिस्थितः । वरदाख्यो गणाध्यक्षः पूज्यो भक्तवरप्रदः

Transliteration

vināyakādrājaputrātkiṃcidrakṣodiśisthitaḥ | varadākhyo gaṇādhyakṣaḥ pūjyo bhaktavarapradaḥ

Translation

ವಿನಾಯಕ ‘ರಾಜಪುತ್ರ’ದಿಂದ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮುಂದೆ, ರಾಕ್ಷಸ-ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ (ದಕ್ಷಿಣದಲ್ಲಿ) ‘ವರದ’ ಎಂಬ ಗಣಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷನು ಸ್ಥಿತನಾಗಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಅವನು ಪೂಜ್ಯನು; ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ವರಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವವನು।

Word by Word

• vināyakāt: from Vināyaka
• vināyakāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/ablative), एकवचन

• rājaputrāt: from the king's son (prince)
• rājaputrāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja + putra (प्रातिपदिक; राजपुत्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः पुत्रः)

• kiṃcit: somewhat; a little
• kiṃcit: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पार्थक निपात (a little/somewhat)

• rakṣaḥ-diśi: in the direction of the demons (south-west etc.)
• rakṣaḥ-diśi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिश्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रक्षसां दिशा)

• sthitaḥ: situated; standing
• sthitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु) → sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• varada-ākhyaḥ: named Varada
• varada-ākhyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (वरद इति आख्यः = named 'Varada')

• gaṇa-adhyakṣaḥ: chief of the gaṇas
• gaṇa-adhyakṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणानाम् अध्यक्षः)

• pūjyaḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūj (धातु) → pūjya (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• bhakta-vara-pradaḥ: giver of boons to devotees
• bhakta-vara-pradaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां वरप्रदः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Varada (Gaṇādhyakṣa) shrine near Rājaputra Vināyaka (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame) / or internal Kāśī-māhātmya interlocutors depending on recension

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī walks beyond the shrine of Rājaputra Vināyaka toward the southern quarter; a dignified gaṇa-lord ‘Varada’ stands as a guardian figure, receiving offerings and granting boons.

Characters & Entities

• Varada (Vināyaka)
• Rājaputra (Vināyaka)
• Gaṇādhyakṣa
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sincere devotion (bhakti) is emphasized: Varada is portrayed as a readily worshippable giver of boons to devotees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A Vināyaka station in the southern (rākṣasa) direction, located a short distance beyond the shrine known as Rājaputra Vināyaka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Worship (pūjā) is enjoined—Varada is explicitly called ‘pūjyaḥ’ (worthy/should be worshipped).