Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 63

Devanagari script

अराजकं महच्चासीद्दुरवस्थमभूज्जगत् । ततो रिपुंजयो नाम राजर्षिर्मनुवंशजः

Transliteration

arājakaṃ mahaccāsīdduravasthamabhūjjagat | tato ripuṃjayo nāma rājarṣirmanuvaṃśajaḥ

Translation

அப்போது பெரும் அரசின்மை எழுந்தது; உலகம் துயர்நிலைக்குத் தள்ளப்பட்டது. பின்னர் மனுவம்சத்தில் பிறந்த ‘ரிபுஞ்ஜய’ என்னும் அரசரிஷி தோன்றினார்.

Word by Word

• अराजकम्: kingless
• अराजकम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-राजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नञ्-तत्पुरुष-प्रकृतिः (without a king)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

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

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• दुरवस्थम्: in a miserable state
• दुरवस्थम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (in a bad condition)

• अभूत्: became; was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रम/हेतुवाचकं (then/thereupon/from that)

• रिपुंजयः: Ripuṃjaya
• रिपुंजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपुंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (Apposition marker/नाम-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; नामनिर्देशार्थक-निपातः (particle indicating name)

• राजर्षिः: a royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Apposition (Same-case descriptor/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः (a royal sage)

• मनु-वंश-जः: descended from Manu’s line
• मनु-वंश-जः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (born in Manu's lineage)

Speaker

Brahmā (continuing address to Śiva)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A distressed world without a king is shown in turmoil; then Ripuṃjaya, a radiant rājarṣi of Manu’s line, appears—calm, armed, and ascetic—signaling the return of order.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śiva
• Ripuṃjaya
• Manu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rājadharma (right kingship) is essential for worldly stability; when rulership collapses, suffering spreads until dharmic authority is restored.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting remains Avimukta/Kāśī, though this verse focuses on governance and the appearance of a righteous ruler.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is historical-cosmological narration.