Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

राजोवाच । पितामह महामान्य त्रिलोकी करणक्षम । महाप्रसाद इत्याज्ञां त्वदीयां मूर्ध्न्युपाददे

Transliteration

rājovāca | pitāmaha mahāmānya trilokī karaṇakṣama | mahāprasāda ityājñāṃ tvadīyāṃ mūrdhnyupādade

Translation

രാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ പിതാമഹാ, ഹേ മഹാമാന്യാ, ത്രിലോകക്രമം നടത്താൻ ശേഷിയുള്ളവനേ! നിങ്ങളുടെ ആജ്ഞ മഹാപ്രസാദം— എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു അവൻ ആ ആജ്ഞ ശിരസ്സിൽ വഹിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पितामह: O Grandfather
• पितामह: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• महामान्य: O highly venerable one
• महामान्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘महान् मान्यः’ (highly venerable)

• त्रिलोकी: O (lord of) the three worlds / three-worlds
• त्रिलोकी: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः — ‘त्रयः लोकाः’ → ‘त्रिलोकी’ (the three worlds)

• करण-क्षम: O capable one (in action)
• करण-क्षम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘करणे क्षमः’ (capable in action/doing)

• महाप्रसादः: (it is) a great favor
• महाप्रसादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘महान् प्रसादः’ (great favor/grace)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• आज्ञाम्: command
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• त्वदीयाम्: your
• त्वदीयाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वदीय (प्रातिपदिक; युष्मद्-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक विशेषण (possessive adjective)

• मूर्ध्नि: on (his) head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• उपाददे: accepted/took up
• उपाददे: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

King Ripuṃjaya (Divodāsa-to-be)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king bows deeply, touching his crown/forehead as if placing Brahmā’s command upon his head; Brahmā bestows a calm, approving gaze.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Ripuṃjaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma begins with reverent acceptance of righteous instruction; humility empowers rightful rule.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the narrative locus; the verse models devotional reverence rather than praising a specific tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite; the act of placing the command ‘on the head’ signifies complete acceptance and devotion.