Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

वार्धकेन समाक्रांतस्तपसा कृशविग्रहः । शंभोराराधनेनिष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वतपस्विषु

Transliteration

vārdhakena samākrāṃtastapasā kṛśavigrahaḥ | śaṃbhorārādhaneniṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvatapasviṣu

Translation

വാർദ്ധക്യം പിടിച്ചും തപസ്സാൽ കൃശദേഹനായിട്ടും, ശംഭുവിന്റെ ആരാധനയിൽ അചഞ്ചലനിഷ്ഠയോടെ നിലകൊണ്ടു; സർവതപസ്വികളിലും ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ।

Word by Word

• वार्धकेन: by old age
• वार्धकेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम् (instr. sg.)

• समाक्रान्तः: overcome, seized
• समाक्रान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√क्रम् (धातु) → समाक्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (instr. sg.)

• कृश: thin, emaciated
• कृश: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन विशेषणम्

• विग्रहः: body, form
• विग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (gen. sg.)

• आराधने: in worship
• आराधने: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (loc. sg.)

• निष्ठः: steadfast, devoted
• निष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘निष्ठ’ = devoted/steadfast

• श्रेष्ठः: best, foremost
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदत्वेन विशेषणम्

• तपस्विषु: among ascetics
• तपस्विषु: Adhikaraṇa (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (loc. pl.)

Speaker

Skanda (narration within Skanda–Agastya dialogue, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An aged, lean ascetic—body worn by austerity—radiates spiritual authority, absorbed in worship of Śambhu; the contrast of frailty and inner strength is central.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Garga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steadfast devotion to Śiva and disciplined tapas are presented as the marks of spiritual excellence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī setting is implied; the city is celebrated as a seat of Śiva-worship and accomplished ascetics.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No single rite is prescribed; the verse praises sustained ārādhana (worship) of Śiva supported by tapas.