Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 83

Devanagari script

किमर्थं भगवत्र्छंभो भिक्षां चरसि शक्तिप । संशयो मे जगन्नाथ नतत्रैलोक्यराज्यद

Transliteration

kimarthaṃ bhagavatrchaṃbho bhikṣāṃ carasi śaktipa | saṃśayo me jagannātha natatrailokyarājyada

Translation

ഹേ ഭഗവൻ ശംഭോ, ശക്തിപ്രഭോ! നീ എന്തിന് ഭിക്ഷ തേടി സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു? ഹേ ജഗന്നാഥാ, ത്രൈലോക്യരാജ്യദാതാ! എനിക്കു സംശയം ഉദിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; interrogative used with अर्थम्

• अर्थम्: purpose (why)
• अर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; idiom: किम् अर्थम् = why

• भगवत्: O Blessed Lord
• भगवत्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन

• शंभो: O Śambhu
• शंभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• चरसि: you roam / you go about
• चरसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शक्तिप: O wielder/lord of power (uncertain reading)
• शक्तिप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्तिप (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन; form appears corrupt; likely intended epithet (e.g., शक्तिपाणे/शक्तिपते)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन; enclitic form

• जगन्नाथ: O Lord of the world
• जगन्नाथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः नाथः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• त्रैलोक्यराज्यद: O giver of the kingdom of the three worlds (uncertain reading)
• त्रैलोक्यराज्यद: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + राज्य + द (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन; form appears truncated/corrupt; likely intended 'त्रैलोक्यराज्यद' = 'giver of the sovereignty of the three worlds' (द = द/दा-प्रातिपदिक)

Speaker

Viṣṇu addressing Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Audience of Kāśīkhaṇḍa; in-scene: Viṣṇu questioning Śiva

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu, perplexed, asks why Śambhu—Jagannātha, giver of sovereignty—wanders for alms; the emotional tone is tender concern mixed with astonishment.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śambhu)
• Śiva (Jagannātha)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the supreme Lord may adopt humble conduct to teach dharma, humility, and the inner meaning of vows.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The discussion occurs in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa framework, connecting Śiva’s vow and presence to Kāśī’s sanctity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Bhikṣā-caryā (wandering for alms) is referenced as part of a divine vrata (vow), prompting inquiry into its purpose.