Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलव्यग्रहस्ताय नमस्त्रिपथगाधर । त्रिविष्टपाधिनाथाय त्रिवेदीपठिताय च

Transliteration

triśūlavyagrahastāya namastripathagādhara | triviṣṭapādhināthāya trivedīpaṭhitāya ca

Translation

ഉഗ്രമായി ത്രിശൂലം ധരിക്കുന്നവനേ നമസ്കാരം; ഹേ ത്രിപഥഗാ ഗംഗാധരാ, നമസ്കാരം. ഹേ ത്രിവിഷ്ടപ (സ്വർഗ്ഗലോക) അധിനാഥാ, നമസ്കാരം; ത്രിവേദങ്ങളാൽ പാരായണംചെയ്ത് സ്തുതിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവനേ, നമസ്കാരം।

Word by Word

• त्रिशूलव्यग्रहस्ताय: to the one whose hand is wielding the trident
• त्रिशूलव्यग्रहस्ताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल + व्यग्र + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिशूले व्यग्रः हस्तः यस्य / त्रिशूलं व्यग्रहस्ते यस्य)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात), नमस्कारार्थक

• त्रिपथगाधर: O bearer of Tripathagā (the Ganga)
• त्रिपथगाधर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपथग + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिपथगा = गङ्गा; तां धरति इति)

• त्रिविष्टपाधिनाथाय: to the overlord of heaven (Triviṣṭapa)
• त्रिविष्टपाधिनाथाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप + अधि + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिविष्टपस्य अधिनाथः)

• त्रिवेदीपठिताय: to the one versed in/recited in the three Vedas
• त्रिवेदीपठिताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवेदी + पठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पठ् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रिवेद्याः पठितः = त्रिवेदपाठक/त्रिवेदेषु पठितः)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśī Khaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā in Kāśī (Tripathagā) / Gaṅgādhara-Śiva sambandha

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva with trident raised, Gaṅgā emerging from His matted locks as a three-tiered flow (heavenly stream, earthly river, subterranean current suggested symbolically); devas in Svarga (Triviṣṭapa) bow; Vedic sages chant.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Gaṅgā
• Vedas (Ṛg/Yajur/Sāma)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva is portrayed as both protector (trident-bearing) and sanctifier (bearer of Gaṅgā), revered by Vedic revelation and heavenly beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s sacred landscape is implied through the Gaṅgā association central to Kāśī Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; the verse supports Gaṅgā-Śiva remembrance while in Kāśī or during pilgrimage recitation.