Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

अन्यं वरं वरे देव देयः सोप्यविचारितम् । स ते परोपकारार्थं जगद्रक्षामणे शिव

Transliteration

anyaṃ varaṃ vare deva deyaḥ sopyavicāritam | sa te paropakārārthaṃ jagadrakṣāmaṇe śiva

Translation

ഹേ ദേവശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! ആലോചനാവിലംബമില്ലാതെ മറ്റൊരു വരവും ദയചെയ്യുക—അത് പരോപകാരാർത്ഥമായിരിക്കട്ടെ, ഹേ ശിവാ, ജഗദ്രക്ഷകാ.

Word by Word

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम्

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• वरे: O best one
• वरे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), संबोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), संबोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• देयः: should be given
• देयः: Vidhi/Predicate (Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दा (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम् (singular); विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicative: to be given)

• सः: that (boon) / it
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अप्यर्थक-निपात (particle: also/even)

• अविचारितम्: without deliberation, unexamined
• अविचारितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविचारित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चर्/√चार्? here √चर् in causative sense via विचारयति; past passive participle with negation)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (unconsidered)

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम् (singular)

• ते: of you, your
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case/genitive) एकवचनम् (singular) (enclitic form)

• परोपकारार्थम्: for the sake of benefiting others
• परोपकारार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + उपकार + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचनम् (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: परस्य उपकारस्य अर्थः (for the purpose of helping others)

• जगद्रक्षामणे: O jewel of the world’s protection
• जगद्रक्षामणे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + रक्षा + मणि (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), संबोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचनम् (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: जगतः रक्षायाः मणिः (jewel of the protection of the world)

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), संबोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचनम् (singular)

Speaker

Viṣṇu

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Kāśīkhaṇḍa audience (sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee/sage petitions Śiva for an additional boon explicitly for the benefit of all beings; Śiva appears as protector, calm yet sovereign, with Kāśī’s ghāṭas behind.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest boon is sought for loka-kalyāṇa—spiritual power should serve the welfare and liberation of beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the setting, as the discourse concerns its liberating status and universal benefit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; it is a request for a dharmic boon benefiting all.