Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

करुणामृतपूर्णेन देवदेवेन शंभुना । एषा प्रवर्तिता गंगा जगदुद्धरणाय वै

Transliteration

karuṇāmṛtapūrṇena devadevena śaṃbhunā | eṣā pravartitā gaṃgā jagaduddharaṇāya vai

Translation

கருணை எனும் அமுதம் நிறைந்த தேவர்களின் தேவன் சம்பு, இந்த கங்கையைப் பாயச் செய்தான்—உலகத்தின் உயர்வும் விடுதலையும் பொருட்டே.

Word by Word

• करुणा-अमृत-पूर्णेन: by (one) filled with the nectar of compassion
• करुणा-अमृत-पूर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण/सह), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (करुणामृतैः पूर्णः इति)

• देव-देवेन: by the god of gods
• देव-देवेन: Karana (Instrument/करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवः)

• शंभुना: by Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुना: Karana (Instrument/करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• एषा: this (she)
• एषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रवर्तिता: was set flowing / was initiated
• प्रवर्तिता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे—‘प्रवर्तिता’ = ‘set in motion/caused to flow’

• गंगा: Gaṅgā
• गंगा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• जगत्-उद्धरणाय: for the deliverance of the world
• जगत्-उद्धरणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जगतः उद्धरणम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Amarāpagā/Tripathagā) in Kāśī

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: (contextual) a sage/muni addressed in surrounding verses

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śambhu, ‘Devadeva’, compassionately releasing Gaṅgā—her waters flowing as a luminous stream meant for the world’s deliverance; devotees at ghāṭas receiving her grace.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṅgā is framed as a compassionate divine institution—Śiva’s grace made accessible to the world for purification and uplift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gaṅgā, especially as revered in Kāśī’s sacred setting in the Skanda Purāṇa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it supplies the purpose (jagaduddharaṇa) behind Gaṅgā-centric practices such as snāna, tarpaṇa, and pilgrimage.