Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

दुर्गो नाम गणाध्यक्षः सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनः । क्षेत्रस्य दक्षिणे भागे पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

durgo nāma gaṇādhyakṣaḥ sarvadurgatināśanaḥ | kṣetrasya dakṣiṇe bhāge pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ

Translation

‘ദുർഗ’ എന്നൊരു ഗണാധ്യക്ഷൻ ഉണ്ട്; അവൻ സർവ്വ ദുർഗതികളും നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ. ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ തെക്കുഭാഗത്ത് അവനെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• दुर्गः: Durga (name of a gaṇa-leader)
• दुर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नाम: namely
• नाम: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (particle) ‘namely’

• गणाध्यक्षः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणाध्यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण-अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनः: destroyer of all misfortunes
• सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-दुर्गति-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गणाध्यक्षः/दुर्गः)

• क्षेत्रस्य: of the sacred area
• क्षेत्रस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: in the southern
• दक्षिणे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भागे)

• भागे: part/region
• भागे: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पूजनीयः: worthy of worship
• पूजनीयः: Vidhi (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पूज् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेयभावः ‘worthy to be worshipped’

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्नतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb) ‘with effort’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Durga (gaṇa-adhyakṣa) shrine in southern Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims/seekers mapping the kṣetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A protective gaṇa-chief (Durga) stands at the southern boundary of the sacred field, fierce yet benevolent; pilgrims approach with lamps and offerings, seeking removal of misfortune; the cityscape of Kāśī recedes behind.

Characters & Entities

• Durga (Gaṇādhyakṣa)
• Kāśī-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī’s sacred space is directionally protected; honoring guardian powers helps dispel misfortune and uphold dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The southern sector of Kāśī-kṣetra, marked by the worship of the gaṇa-chief Durga as a protective presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā—worship Durga Gaṇādhyakṣa in the southern part of the kṣetra with diligence.