Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 69

Devanagari script

प्रभंजनो बलेनासि श्रीदोसि श्रीसमर्पणैः । शासनेन भवान्रुद्रो निरृतिस्त्वं रणांगणे

Transliteration

prabhaṃjano balenāsi śrīdosi śrīsamarpaṇaiḥ | śāsanena bhavānrudro nirṛtistvaṃ raṇāṃgaṇe

Translation

ബലത്തിൽ നിങ്ങൾ പ്രഭഞ്ജനമായ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റ്; ശ്രീയെ അർപ്പിച്ചു ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നതാൽ നിങ്ങൾ ശ്രീദാതാവ്. ഭരണത്തിൽ നിങ്ങൾ സ്വയം രുദ്രൻ; യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ നിങ്ങൾ നിരൃതിയെപ്പോലെ.

Word by Word

• प्रभंजनः: Prabhañjana (the wind)
• प्रभंजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (storm-wind)

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by strength)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 2nd sg (you are)

• श्रीदः: giver of prosperity
• श्रीदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (giver of prosperity)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 2nd sg (you are)

• श्रीसमर्पणैः: by offerings of prosperity/wealth
• श्रीसमर्पणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + समर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रिया समर्पणम्); Instrumental plural (by offerings/dedications of wealth)

• शासनेन: by command, by rule
• शासनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by command/discipline)

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; honorific pronoun; Nominative singular (you)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Rudra)

• निरृतिः: Nirṛti
• निरृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Nirṛti, goddess of destruction/southwest)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (you)

• रणांगणे: in the battlefield
• रणांगणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण + आङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रणस्य आङ्गणम्); Locative singular (in the battlefield)

Speaker

Skanda (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣi audience (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dynamic split-scene: the praised ruler as storm-wind in strength, as a benefactor offering wealth to Brahmins/temples, as Rudra-like judge on the throne, and as a fearsome warrior on the battlefield likened to Nirṛti.

Characters & Entities

• Prabhañjana (storm-wind)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī/prosperity)
• Rudra
• Nirṛti

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Righteous rule blends generosity (śrī-pradāna), firm discipline (śāsana), and protective courage in times of conflict.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the textual setting, but this verse itself is focused on royal qualities rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied virtue of śrī-samarpaṇa (dedicating wealth), but no explicit vrata or rite is prescribed.