Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

सिद्धयः सिद्धिलिंगानि स्पर्शलिंगान्यनेकशः । प्रासादा रत्नरचिताश्चिंतामणिगणा अपि

Transliteration

siddhayaḥ siddhiliṃgāni sparśaliṃgānyanekaśaḥ | prāsādā ratnaracitāściṃtāmaṇigaṇā api

Translation

ഇവിടെ അനേകം സിദ്ധികൾ ഉണ്ട്; സിദ്ധി നൽകുന്ന പല ലിംഗങ്ങളും ഉണ്ട്; സ്പർശമാത്രത്തിൽ പുണ്യം നൽകുന്ന അനവധി സ്പർശ-ലിംഗങ്ങളും ഉണ്ട്. രത്നങ്ങളാൽ നിർമ്മിതമായ പ്രാസാദങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്; ചിന്താമണി പോലെയുള്ള ഇഷ്ടസിദ്ധി നൽകുന്ന രത്നസമൂഹങ്ങളും ഉണ്ട്.

Word by Word

• सिद्धयः: supernatural powers, siddhis
• सिद्धयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सिद्धिलिङ्गानि: signs/marks of siddhi
• सिद्धिलिङ्गानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘सिद्धेः लिङ्गानि’

• स्पर्शलिङ्गानि: signs/marks of touch (miraculous touch-signs)
• स्पर्शलिङ्गानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्पर्शस्य लिङ्गानि’

• अनेकशः: in many ways; repeatedly; manifold
• अनेकशः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/आवृत्ति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner/frequency)

• प्रासादाः: palaces, mansions
• प्रासादाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रत्नरचिताः: constructed/ornamented with gems
• रत्नरचिताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + रचित (कृदन्त; √रच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘रचित’; तृतीया/करण-भावार्थे तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘रत्नैः रचिताः’ = ‘made with gems’

• चिन्तामणिगणाः: groups/heaps of wish-fulfilling gems
• चिन्तामणिगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्तामणि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘चिन्तामणेः गणाः’

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: ‘also/even’)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī (Gaṅgā-tīra and liṅga-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic Kāśī: clustered liṅga-shrines and ‘sparśa-liṅgas’ along narrow lanes opening to Gaṅgā ghāṭas; jewel-like prasādas shimmering; symbolic cintāmaṇi gems radiating halos of light around devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Gaṅgā
• Liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī is portrayed as a siddhi-kṣetra where Śaiva sanctity is concentrated—darśana and even touch of certain Liṅgas are said to confer swift spiritual benefit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as the supreme Śaiva sacred landscape, filled with many Liṅga-shrines and miraculous sanctities.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the verse emphasizes merit through visiting and touching (sparśa) particular Liṅgas.