Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

विनायकाद्राजपुत्रात्किंचिद्रक्षोदिशिस्थितः । वरदाख्यो गणाध्यक्षः पूज्यो भक्तवरप्रदः

Transliteration

vināyakādrājaputrātkiṃcidrakṣodiśisthitaḥ | varadākhyo gaṇādhyakṣaḥ pūjyo bhaktavarapradaḥ

Translation

ਵਿਨਾਇਕ ‘ਰਾਜਪੁਤਰ’ ਤੋਂ ਕੁਝ ਅੱਗੇ, ਰਾਕਸ਼ਸਾਂ ਦੀ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ (ਦੱਖਣ) ਵੱਲ ਗਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਪਤੀ ‘ਵਰਦ’ ਨਾਮਕ ਗਣੇਸ਼ ਜੀ ਸਥਿਤ ਹਨ—ਪੂਜਣਯੋਗ, ਭਗਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਰ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੇ।

Word by Word

• vināyakāt: from Vināyaka
• vināyakāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/ablative), एकवचन

• rājaputrāt: from the king's son (prince)
• rājaputrāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja + putra (प्रातिपदिक; राजपुत्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः पुत्रः)

• kiṃcit: somewhat; a little
• kiṃcit: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पार्थक निपात (a little/somewhat)

• rakṣaḥ-diśi: in the direction of the demons (south-west etc.)
• rakṣaḥ-diśi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिश्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रक्षसां दिशा)

• sthitaḥ: situated; standing
• sthitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु) → sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• varada-ākhyaḥ: named Varada
• varada-ākhyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (वरद इति आख्यः = named 'Varada')

• gaṇa-adhyakṣaḥ: chief of the gaṇas
• gaṇa-adhyakṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणानाम् अध्यक्षः)

• pūjyaḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūj (धातु) → pūjya (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• bhakta-vara-pradaḥ: giver of boons to devotees
• bhakta-vara-pradaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां वरप्रदः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Varada (Gaṇādhyakṣa) shrine near Rājaputra Vināyaka (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame) / or internal Kāśī-māhātmya interlocutors depending on recension

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in Kāśī walks beyond the shrine of Rājaputra Vināyaka toward the southern quarter; a dignified gaṇa-lord ‘Varada’ stands as a guardian figure, receiving offerings and granting boons.

Characters & Entities

• Varada (Vināyaka)
• Rājaputra (Vināyaka)
• Gaṇādhyakṣa
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sincere devotion (bhakti) is emphasized: Varada is portrayed as a readily worshippable giver of boons to devotees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A Vināyaka station in the southern (rākṣasa) direction, located a short distance beyond the shrine known as Rājaputra Vināyaka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Worship (pūjā) is enjoined—Varada is explicitly called ‘pūjyaḥ’ (worthy/should be worshipped).