Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

इति सूरं समाश्वास्य देवदेव कृपानिधिः । गणानाश्वासयामास व्रीडा नम्रशिरोधरान्

Transliteration

iti sūraṃ samāśvāsya devadeva kṛpānidhiḥ | gaṇānāśvāsayāmāsa vrīḍā namraśirodharān

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ സൂര്യനെ ആശ്വസിപ്പിച്ച ശേഷം, കരുണാനിധിയായ ദേവദേവൻ ലജ്ജയാൽ തലകുനിഞ്ഞിരുന്ന ഗണങ്ങളെയും ആശ്വസിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्ययम्

• सूरम्: the Sun (Sūrya)
• सूरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः

• समाश्वास्य: having reassured
• समाश्वास्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund): 'having consoled/encouraged'

• देवदेव: O god of gods
• देवदेव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेव (प्रातिपदिक) [देव + देव]
• Form: सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (देवानां देवः)

• कृपानिधिः: treasury of compassion
• कृपानिधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपानिधि (प्रातिपदिक) [कृपा + निधि]
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृपायाः निधिः)

• गणान्: the attendants/hosts
• गणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः

• आश्वासयामास: caused to be comforted; consoled
• आश्वासयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (periphrastic perfect/आम-प्रत्ययान्त), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative): आश्वासयति

• व्रीडा: with modesty/shame
• व्रीडा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गः; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (with shame/modestly)

• नम्रशिरोधरान्: those with bowed heads
• नम्रशिरोधरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्रशिरोधर (प्रातिपदिक) [नम्र + शिरोधर]
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्मधारयः (नम्रः शिरोधरः येषाम्) विशेषणम् (गणान्)

Speaker

Narrator

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/saṃvāda audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva, compassionate and majestic, turns from Ravi to the gaṇas; the gaṇas stand with heads bowed, then gradually lift their faces as Śiva consoles them, the atmosphere softening.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Deva-deva, Kṛpānidhi)
• Sūrya
• Gaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s compassion restores harmony—he reassures both the mighty (Sun) and the attendants (gaṇas) alike.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The episode belongs to Kāśī’s māhātmya, portraying Śiva’s personal governance and mercy in the sacred city.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a narrative conclusion emphasizing reassurance and grace.