Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

भुजस्तंभः कृतस्तेन नंदिना दृष्टिमात्रतः । वाक्स्तंभस्तद्भयाज्जातः स्पृश मे कंठकंदलीम्

Transliteration

bhujastaṃbhaḥ kṛtastena naṃdinā dṛṣṭimātrataḥ | vākstaṃbhastadbhayājjātaḥ spṛśa me kaṃṭhakaṃdalīm

Translation

നന്ദിയുടെ ദൃഷ്ടിമാത്രത്തിൽ എന്റെ ഭുജങ്ങൾ സ്തംഭിച്ചു; അവന്റെ ഭയത്തിൽ എന്റെ വാക്കും മുടങ്ങി. അതുകൊണ്ട്, പ്രഭോ, എന്റെ കണ്ഠത്തിലെ ഈ കന്ദലിയെ സ്പർശിച്ച് എന്നെ മോചിപ്പിക്കണമേ.

Word by Word

• भुज-स्तम्भः: the paralysis/stiffening of the arms
• भुज-स्तम्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भुजानां स्तम्भः)

• कृतः: was made/caused
• कृतः: Karma (Object/कर्म) (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• नन्दिना: by Nandin
• नन्दिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दृष्टि-मात्रतः: merely by (his) glance
• दृष्टि-मात्रतः: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'मात्रतः' (only/by mere)

• वाक्-स्तम्भः: paralysis of speech
• वाक्-स्तम्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वाचः स्तम्भः)

• तत्-भयात्: from that fear
• तत्-भयात्: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य भयम्)

• जातः: arose/was produced
• जातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: जन्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्पृश: touch
• स्पृश: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: me / for me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular) एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• कण्ठ-कन्दलीम्: the throat-creeper (i.e., the throat/neck region)
• कण्ठ-कन्दलीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्दली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कण्ठस्य कन्दली)

Speaker

Satyavatī’s son (Vyāsa) addressing Maheśa/Śiva (contextual deduction within Kāśīkhaṇḍa Uttarārdha)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee stands trembling, arms rigid and speech arrested, before Nandin’s awe-inspiring gaze; he pleads for release at the throat so he may speak praise.

Characters & Entities

• Nandin
• Maheśa
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine attendants (like Nandin) uphold Śiva’s sanctity; humility and surrender restore the devotee’s capacity to speak and praise.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), especially the sphere of Viśvanātha/Śiva where his gaṇas guard the dhāma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse emphasizes prayerful appeal and Śiva-bhakti rather than a specific vrata or dāna.