Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 67
तस्य राज्ञः प्रजास्त्रातुं भूयाच्चैष मनोरथः । मम नाडीद्वयं राज्यं तस्यापि च शतक्रतोः
tasya rājñaḥ prajāstrātuṃ bhūyāccaiṣa manorathaḥ | mama nāḍīdvayaṃ rājyaṃ tasyāpi ca śatakratoḥ
ആ രാജാവിന്റെ പ്രജകളെ രക്ഷിക്കണമെന്നത് അവന്റെ മറ്റൊരു ആഗ്രഹമായി വരട്ടെ. എന്റെ ‘രണ്ടു നാഡി’സ്വരൂപമായ രാജ്യം അവന്റെയും ശതക്രതു (ഇന്ദ്രൻ)ന്റെയും ആകട്ടെ।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sage/audience in Kāśī-mahātmya frame (contextual)
Scene: A blessing is articulated: the king’s wish to protect subjects; symbolic depiction of two nāḍīs as twin luminous channels flanking a central axis, suggesting balanced sovereignty shared with Śatakratu (Indra).
FAQs
The hallmark of righteous sovereignty is protection of subjects; power is legitimate only when aligned with dharma.
The verse occurs within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s narration; the immediate focus is dharmic kingship within the sacred account.
No ritual is prescribed; it emphasizes rājadharma—ethical governance and protection.