Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

करींद्रवदने तत्र क्षेत्रवर्येऽविमुक्तके । विलंबभाजित्र्यक्षेण प्रैक्षिक्षिप्रमधोक्षजः

Transliteration

karīṃdravadane tatra kṣetravarye'vimuktake | vilaṃbabhājitryakṣeṇa praikṣikṣipramadhokṣajaḥ

Translation

അവിടെ അവിമുക്തമെന്ന ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ, ഗജമുഖൻ വൈകിപ്പോവിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, അധോക്ഷജൻ (വിഷ്ണു) ത്രിനേത്രനായ മഹേശ്വരനിലേക്കു വേഗത്തിൽ ദൃഷ്ടി തിരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• करीन्द्रवदने: in the elephant-faced (place/region)
• करीन्द्रवदने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करीन्द्र-वदन (प्रातिपदिक; करिन्/करीन्द्र + वदन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (करीन्द्रस्य वदनम्) — Locative singular (in/at)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• क्षेत्रवर्ये: in the excellent holy field
• क्षेत्रवर्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र-वर्य (प्रातिपदिक; क्षेत्र + वर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वर्यं क्षेत्रम्) — Locative singular

• अविमुक्तके: in Avimuktaka (Kāśī)
• अविमुक्तके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेष्य-स्थाननाम — Locative singular

• विलम्बभाजि: with (something) causing delay
• विलम्बभाजि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलम्ब-भाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक; विलम्ब + भाजिन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विलम्बं भजते इति) — Instrumental singular, qualifying 'त्र्यक्षेण'

• त्र्यक्षेण: with the three-axled (vehicle/chariot)
• त्र्यक्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + अक्ष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि अक्षाणि यस्य) — Instrumental singular

• प्रैक्षि: he looked
• प्रैक्षि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — 'he looked/observed'

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अधोक्षजः: Adhokṣaja (Viṣṇu)
• अधोक्षजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधोक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेष्य-देवनाम — Nominative singular

Speaker

Skanda (narrator)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within the luminous lanes of Avimukta, the elephant-faced Gaṇeśa is momentarily delaying; Viṣṇu (Adhokṣaja) swiftly turns his gaze toward the three-eyed Śiva, signaling deference and urgency amid a divine gathering.

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta (Kāśī)
• Gaṇeśa (Elephant-faced)
• Adhokṣaja (Viṣṇu)
• Tryakṣa (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In the sacred arena of Kāśī, divine roles interlock—obstacles, timing, and resolution unfold through coordinated divine will.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Avimukta Kṣetra—the supreme sacred field identified with Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the verse sets a narrative scene within the māhātmya of Avimukta.