Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

यथा शाखविशाखौ च यथेमौ नंदिभृंगिणौ । भवत्सु विद्यमानेषु महाविक्रमशालिषु

Transliteration

yathā śākhaviśākhau ca yathemau naṃdibhṛṃgiṇau | bhavatsu vidyamāneṣu mahāvikramaśāliṣu

Translation

“ਜਿਵੇਂ ਸ਼ਾਖ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਖ ਹਨ, ਅਤੇ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਇਹ ਦੋ ਨੰਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਭ੍ਰਿੰਗਿਨ ਹਨ—ਜਦ ਤੱਕ ਤੁਸੀਂ, ਮਹਾਨ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਵਾਲੇ, ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੋ…”

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलना-वाचक

• शाखविशाखौ: Śākha and Viśākha
• शाखविशाखौ: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाख + विशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; शाखश्च विशाखश्च इति द्वन्द्वः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलना-वाचक

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• नन्दिभृङ्गिणौ: Nandi and Bhṛṅgin
• नन्दिभृङ्गिणौ: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि + भृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नन्दिश्च भृङ्गी च/भृङ्गिणौ इति द्वन्द्वः (नामद्वयम्)

• भवत्सु: among/when you (are present)
• भवत्सु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• विद्यमानेषु: being present, existing
• विद्यमानेषु: Adhikarana (Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्यमान (कृदन्त; √विद्/√अस् भावे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), आत्मनेपद-भावार्थ

• महाविक्रमशालिषु: among those possessing great valor
• महाविक्रमशालिषु: Adhikarana (Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + विक्रम + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; महाविक्रम-शालिन् = महाविक्रमः यस्य सः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थक)

Speaker

Śiva (continuing address)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A commander-like address to two valorous attendants, with emblematic pairs (Śākha-Viśākha; Nandin-Bhṛṅgin) shown as archetypes behind them—suggesting continuity of guardianship as long as the brave remain present.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śākha
• Viśākha
• Nandin
• Bhṛṅgin

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The continuity of dharma in sacred space depends on steadfast guardianship; Śiva’s attendants embody vigilant protection of the holy realm.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī by context, since the valor of Śiva’s attendants is invoked for the city’s affairs.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is part of Śiva’s commissioning speech about capable guardians.