Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

रुद्राख्या धारणवशात्प्रमथैस्तेऽवहेलिताः । वरुणोदरमापीड्य प्रमथोन्यो बलेनहि

Transliteration

rudrākhyā dhāraṇavaśātpramathaiste'vahelitāḥ | varuṇodaramāpīḍya pramathonyo balenahi

Translation

କେବଳ ନାମଧାରଣରୁ ‘ରୁଦ୍ର’ ବୋଲି ଚିହ୍ନିତ ଥିବାମାନେ ପ୍ରମଥମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଉପହାସିତ ହୋଇ ପରାଜିତ ହେଲେ। ଅନ୍ୟ ଜଣେ ପ୍ରମଥ ବଳପୂର୍ବକ ବରୁଣଙ୍କ ଉଦରକୁ ଚାପି ଧରିଲା।

Word by Word

• रुद्राख्याः: called ‘Rudras’
• रुद्राख्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (‘named Rudras’); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masc. nominative plural)

• धारणवशात्: because of compulsion/constraint (of holding)
• धारणवशात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (‘due to the force/constraint of holding’); पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम् (masc. ablative singular)

• प्रमथैः: by the Pramathas
• प्रमथैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (masc. instrumental plural)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masc. nominative plural)

• अवहेलिताः: were insulted / were slighted
• अवहेलिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + हेल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masc. nominative plural)

• वरुणोदरम्: Varuṇa’s belly
• वरुणोदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘Varuṇa’s belly’); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neut. accusative singular)

• आपीड्य: having pressed/squeezed
• आपीड्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभावः

• प्रमथः: a Pramatha
• प्रमथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (masc. nominative singular)

• अन्यः: another
• अन्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (masc. nominative singular)

• बलेन: by force
• बलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (neut. instrumental singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle/emphasis)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative voice, typically Skanda to Agastya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Fierce pramathas jeer at a line of ‘Rudra-named’ beings; Varuṇa, lord of waters, is physically pressed at the abdomen by a powerful pramatha, showing the devas’ helplessness.

Characters & Entities

• Pramathas
• Varuṇa
• Rudras

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Titles and ritual status cannot protect one from the consequences of disrespect; true authority rests with dharma and Śiva’s cosmic order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred geography of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, framing Śiva’s supremacy over ritual arrogance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the context warns against conducting sacrifice in a spirit of contempt toward Śiva.