Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

तवाज्ञाकारिणीं देवि शाधि मां करवाणि किम् । संज्ञोवाच ततश्छायां सवर्णे शृणु सुंदरि

Transliteration

tavājñākāriṇīṃ devi śādhi māṃ karavāṇi kim | saṃjñovāca tataśchāyāṃ savarṇe śṛṇu suṃdari

Translation

ଦେବୀ, ମୁଁ ତୁମ ଆଜ୍ଞାପାଳିନୀ ଦାସୀ; କହ—ମୁଁ କ’ଣ କରିବି? ତେବେ ସଂଜ୍ଞା ଛାୟାକୁ କହିଲେ—ହେ ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ ସବର୍ଣ୍ଣା, ଶୁଣ।

Word by Word

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• आज्ञाकारिणीम्: obedient to (your) command
• आज्ञाकारिणीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञा + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शाधि: command/instruct
• शाधि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• करवाणि: should I do
• करवाणि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संज्ञः: Saṃjña (name of a person)
• संज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• छायाम्: Chāyā (name)/the shadow
• छायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सवर्णे: O similar-complexioned one
• सवर्णे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सुंदरि: O beautiful one
• सुंदरि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Chāyā (first line), then Saṃjñā (second line)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka/ṛṣis (typical Naimiṣāraṇya frame; not explicit here)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Interior of a divine household: Saṃjñā, radiant yet anxious, addresses Chāyā (Savarṇā), who stands respectfully with folded hands; the moment is intimate, preparatory, and secret-laden.

Characters & Entities

• Chāyā
• Saṃjñā
• Savarṇā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Speech and obedience are portrayed as powerful forces; however, dharma requires that obedience remain aligned with truth and righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None directly; the narrative sits within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse.