Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

एकैकं सिद्धिदं नृणामविमुक्तनिवासिनाम् । लिंगं कात्यायनेशादि च्यवनेशां तमेव हि

Transliteration

ekaikaṃ siddhidaṃ nṛṇāmavimuktanivāsinām | liṃgaṃ kātyāyaneśādi cyavaneśāṃ tameva hi

Translation

இவற்றில் ஒவ்வொரு லிங்கமும் அவிமுக்த (காசி) வாசிகளுக்கு சித்தியை அளிக்கும்; அவற்றில் காத்யாயனேச லிங்கமும், ச்யவனேசமும் உள்ளன.

Word by Word

• एकैकम्: each (one)
• एकैकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (each one; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• सिद्धिदम्: granting accomplishment
• सिद्धिदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; दा धातु, खल्/णिनि-प्रत्ययार्थक ‘द’ = दाता)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; ‘giver of success’)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• अविमुक्त-निवासिनाम्: of the residents of Avimukta (Kāśī)
• अविमुक्त-निवासिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• कात्यायनेश-आदि: beginning with Kātyāyaneśa
• कात्यायनेश-आदि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कात्यायन-ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc./beginning with (used as qualifier)

• च्यवनेशाम्: of the Cyavaneśas (liṅgas named thus)
• च्यवनेशाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: च्यवन-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative, Singular; pronoun)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (indeclinable particle; only/indeed)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु-निपात (particle; indeed/for)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta liṅga network (including Kātyāyaneśa, Cyavaneśa)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sage addressee (mune)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two shrine-scenes: devotees in Kāśī offering bilva and water to Kātyāyaneśa and Cyavaneśa liṅgas; the city’s narrow lanes, lamps, and incense; a calm aura indicating siddhi-bestowal.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Avimukta (Kāśī)
• Kātyāyaneśa
• Cyavaneśa
• Śiva-liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In Avimukta Kāśī, every consecrated liṅga is a direct channel of grace, capable of granting spiritual accomplishment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Avimukta (the sacred Kāśī area) and its named liṅgas such as Kātyāyaneśa and Cyavaneśa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is stated; the verse asserts the siddhi-bestowing nature of these liṅgas for Kāśī-dwellers.