Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

नमः शक्त्यर्धदेहाय विदेहाय सुदेहिने । सकृत्प्रणाममात्रेण देहिदेहनिवारिणे

Transliteration

namaḥ śaktyardhadehāya videhāya sudehine | sakṛtpraṇāmamātreṇa dehidehanivāriṇe

Translation

ശക്തി അർദ്ധദേഹനായവനേ, നിനക്കു നമഃ; ദേഹരഹിതനായിട്ടും സുന്ദര ദേഹം ധരിക്കുന്നവനേ, നിനക്കു നമഃ। ഒരിക്കൽ ചെയ്ത പ്രണാമമാത്രത്തിൽ ദേഹധാരികളുടെ ദേഹബന്ധം നീക്കുന്ന പ്രഭുവേ, നമസ്കാരം।

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थक-प्रयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्त्यर्धदेहाय: to him whose body is half (of) Śakti
• शक्त्यर्धदेहाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (whose body is half Śakti)

• विदेहाय: to the bodiless one
• विदेहाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (bodiless; beyond body)

• सुदेहिने: to the well-formed one
• सुदेहिने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (well-bodied; having a fair form)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/परिमाण-अव्यय (adverb: once)

• प्रणाममात्रेण: by mere prostration
• प्रणाममात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधनम् (by the mere act of bowing)

• देहिदेहनिवारिणे: to the remover of embodied existence
• देहिदेहनिवारिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + निवारिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि+वृ धातोः णिनि/इन्-प्रत्ययार्थक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (remover of the bodies/embodiment of beings; i.e., remover of embodied existence)

Speaker

Jaigīṣavya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim-audience / ṛṣi audience (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ardhanārīśvara stands in luminous symmetry—half Śiva, half Śakti—while a devotee performs a full daṇḍavat praṇāma; the devotee’s body is shown dissolving into light, symbolizing release from embodied bondage.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śakti (Pārvatī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-Śakti unity is affirmed, and sincere surrender—even once—can dissolve deep karmic bondage.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is implied; the verse echoes Kāśī’s promise of swift spiritual release through devotion to Śiva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praṇāma (prostration) is highlighted as a potent devotional act with liberating merit.