Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

मूर्तिं संस्थाप्य शुभदां भास्वतः शुभलक्षणाम् । दक्षिणेन विशालाक्ष्या दृढभक्तिसमन्वितः

Transliteration

mūrtiṃ saṃsthāpya śubhadāṃ bhāsvataḥ śubhalakṣaṇām | dakṣiṇena viśālākṣyā dṛḍhabhaktisamanvitaḥ

Translation

ഭാസ്വത് (ദീപ്തസൂര്യൻ) ദേവന്റെ ശുഭലക്ഷണയുക്തമായ വരദായക മൂർത്തി സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, അദ്ദേഹം വിശാലാക്ഷീ ദേവിയുടെ തെക്കുഭാഗത്ത് ദൃഢഭക്തിയോടെ നിലകൊണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• मूर्तिम्: an image/form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संस्थाप्य: having installed
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव/gerund)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• शुभदाम्: bestowing auspiciousness
• शुभदाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मूर्तिम्)

• भास्वतः: of the radiant one (Sun)
• भास्वतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभलक्षणाम्: having auspicious marks
• शुभलक्षणाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मूर्तिम्)

• दक्षिणेन: with the right (hand/side)
• दक्षिणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; साधन/सहचर्ये (by/with the right side/hand)

• विशालाक्ष्या: with (one) wide-eyed (a woman/consort)
• विशालाक्ष्या: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशालाक्षी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सहकारक (accompaniment)

• दृढभक्तिसमन्वितः: endowed with firm devotion
• दृढभक्तिसमन्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + भक्ति + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the sage)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vṛddhāditya (near Viśālākṣī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sage installs a radiant Sun image with auspicious marks; he stands in devotion to the south of the Viśālākṣī shrine, with Kāśī’s temple skyline and ritual implements around.

Characters & Entities

• Bhāsvat (Sūrya)
• Viśālākṣī
• Vārāṇasī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred images installed with devotion in a holy kṣetra become sources of auspiciousness and spiritual attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Viśālākṣī area in Kāśī, indicating the locale connected to Vṛddhāditya/Sūrya worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mūrti-saṃsthāpana (icon installation) and devoted worship in a specified sacred location/direction.