Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

धनंजय इवाधाक्षीत्परारण्यान्यनेकशः । पाशीव पाशयांचक्रे वैरिचक्रं विदूरगः

Transliteration

dhanaṃjaya ivādhākṣītparāraṇyānyanekaśaḥ | pāśīva pāśayāṃcakre vairicakraṃ vidūragaḥ

Translation

ଧନଞ୍ଜୟ (ଅର୍ଜୁନ) ପରି ସେ ଅନେକ ଶତ୍ରୁ-ଅରଣ୍ୟକୁ ଦମନ କଲେ; ଏବଂ ପାଶଧାରୀ ପରି ଦୂରରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶତ୍ରୁଚକ୍ରକୁ ପାଶରେ ବାନ୍ଧିଦେଲେ।

Word by Word

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानसूचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अधाक्षीत्: he conquered/overpowered
• अधाक्षीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + अङ्क्ष्/अक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पर-अरण्यानि: enemy/foreign forests (territories)
• पर-अरण्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (पराणि अरण्यानि)

• अनेकशः: many times; in many ways
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/आवृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• पाशी: the noose-bearer (Yama/Varuṇa)
• पाशी: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘पाश’धारी (one who has a noose)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानसूचक अव्यय

• पाशयान्: nooses
• पाशयान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• चक्रे: he made/formed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वैरि-चक्रम्: the circle/host of enemies
• वैरि-चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरि + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैरिणां चक्रम्)

• विदूरगः: far-going; far-reaching
• विदूरगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदूरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A warrior-king advances through dense forests, bow drawn; enemies are caught as if by an unseen noose cast from afar; the forest opens into a cleared path symbolizing restored order.

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Divodāsa (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma-protecting strength is both courageous and strategic—subduing threats decisively while safeguarding the realm.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse advances the Kāśī/Vārāṇasī narrative by praising the king whose rule secures the sacred city’s stability.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a heroic comparison and description.