Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

तारावलीमयाः कीला आहेया उपनायकाः । श्रुतयो मार्गदर्शिन्यः स्मृतयो रथगुप्तयः

Transliteration

tārāvalīmayāḥ kīlā āheyā upanāyakāḥ | śrutayo mārgadarśinyaḥ smṛtayo rathaguptayaḥ

Translation

നക്ഷത്രനിരകളാൽ കീൽകൾ നിർമ്മിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; സർപ്പങ്ങൾ വഴികാട്ടുന്ന സഹായികളായി. ശ്രുതികൾ പഥദർശിനികളായി, സ്മൃതികൾ രഥത്തിന്റെ രക്ഷകരായി।

Word by Word

• तारावलीमयाः: made of a cluster of stars
• तारावलीमयाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारावली (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘-मय’ (made of a garland/cluster of stars)

• कीलाः: pegs; stakes
• कीलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• आहेयाः: to be placed; fit to be set
• आहेयाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + हे (धातु) → आहेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त; यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थक (gerundive/fit to be placed/laid); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; √हे/हि (to put/leave) with आ-

• उपनायकाः: guides; assistants
• उपनायकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘guides/assistants’

• श्रुतयः: the Śrutis (Vedas)
• श्रुतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• मार्गदर्शिन्यः: showing the path
• मार्गदर्शिन्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मार्गस्य दर्शिन्यः)

• स्मृतयः: the Smṛtis
• स्मृतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• रथगुप्तयः: protectors/guards of the chariot
• रथगुप्तयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + गुप्ति/गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रथस्य गुप्तयः)

Speaker

Nandīkeśvara (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (scripture-guided tīrtha ideal)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine chariot whose pegs are made of star-rows; nāgas act as attendants guiding the way; personified Śrutis (as radiant sages/maidens holding palm-leaf/veda) point the route; Smṛtis stand guard like armored protectors around the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Stars (tārāvalī)
• Serpents (āhi)
• Śruti
• Smṛti
• Chariot (ratha)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The journey through sacred space is safeguarded by dharma: Śruti guides and Smṛti protects, uniting revelation and tradition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the larger Kāśī māhātmya passage, sacralizing the setting through Vedic and cosmic symbolism.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; it implicitly elevates adherence to Śruti–Smṛti (vaidika–smārta dharma) as the correct ‘path’ in pilgrimage and worship.