Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

रणांगणे कृतांताभः संख्यावांश्च सदोजिरे । कामिनीकामकेलिज्ञो युवापि स्थविरप्रियः

Transliteration

raṇāṃgaṇe kṛtāṃtābhaḥ saṃkhyāvāṃśca sadojire | kāminīkāmakelijño yuvāpi sthavirapriyaḥ

Translation

യുദ്ധഭൂമിയില്‍ അവൻ കൃതാന്തനെപ്പോലെ ഭാസിച്ചു; കണക്കിലും ഉപദേശത്തിലും ദൃഢനായിരുന്നു. കാമകേളികളുടെ കലകള്‍ അറിഞ്ഞിരുന്നാലും, യൗവനത്തിലും മൂപ്പന്മാര്‍ അംഗീകരിക്കുന്ന വഴിയേ പ്രിയപ്പെട്ടവനായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• रणाङ्गणे: on the battlefield
• रणाङ्गणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रणस्य अङ्गणम् = battlefield)

• कृतान्ताभः: death-like (terrible as Yama)
• कृतान्ताभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कृतान्त इव आभः/आभा यस्य = like Yama/death)

• संख्यावान्: numerous / well-enumerated
• संख्यावान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (मतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing number/count; i.e., well-counted/renowned for numbers)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सदोजिरे: in assembly and in vigor (in council and strength)
• सदोजिरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (सदश्च ओजश्च)

• कामिनी: woman, beloved
• कामिनी: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण

• काम: desire, love
• काम: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-समर्थ (compound member); समासाङ्ग

• केलिज्ञः: knower of love-sport
• केलिज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केलि (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (केलिं जानाति = knowing amorous play)

• युवा: a youth
• युवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; युवन्-शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन (युवा)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

• स्थविरप्रियः: dear to elders
• स्थविरप्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थविर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्थविराणां प्रियः = dear to elders)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A split-scene portrayal: on one side the hero in armor on a battlefield, radiant and fearsome like Yama; on the other, the same youth seated respectfully before elders, receiving counsel, with subtle symbols of disciplined household life.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛtānta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Strength and competence must be governed by dharma—respect for elders and disciplined conduct even amid worldly knowledge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tirtha is named; the verse is part of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s exemplary portrait of righteous rulership in Kāśī’s sacred milieu.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.