Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 67
तस्य राज्ञः प्रजास्त्रातुं भूयाच्चैष मनोरथः । मम नाडीद्वयं राज्यं तस्यापि च शतक्रतोः
tasya rājñaḥ prajāstrātuṃ bhūyāccaiṣa manorathaḥ | mama nāḍīdvayaṃ rājyaṃ tasyāpi ca śatakratoḥ
त्या राजाच्या प्रजांचे रक्षण करणे ही त्याची आणखी इच्छा होवो। माझे ‘दोन नाडी’ स्वरूप राज्य—त्याचेही आणि शतक्रतु (इंद्र) याचेही होवो।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sage/audience in Kāśī-mahātmya frame (contextual)
Scene: A blessing is articulated: the king’s wish to protect subjects; symbolic depiction of two nāḍīs as twin luminous channels flanking a central axis, suggesting balanced sovereignty shared with Śatakratu (Indra).
FAQs
The hallmark of righteous sovereignty is protection of subjects; power is legitimate only when aligned with dharma.
The verse occurs within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s narration; the immediate focus is dharmic kingship within the sacred account.
No ritual is prescribed; it emphasizes rājadharma—ethical governance and protection.