Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

काश्यां विद्याबलं प्राप्य साधनार्थमुपाययौ । गुहेश्वरमुखान्येष सप्तलिंगान्यपूजयत्

Transliteration

kāśyāṃ vidyābalaṃ prāpya sādhanārthamupāyayau | guheśvaramukhānyeṣa saptaliṃgānyapūjayat

Translation

காசியில் மந்திர-வித்யையின் வலிமை பெற்ற அவன், சாதனை நிறைவேற அங்கே வந்தான். குகேஸ்வரர் முதலாக ஏழு லிங்கங்களையும் முறையாக வழிபட்டான்.

Word by Word

• काश्याम्: in Kāśī
• काश्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विद्याबलम्: the power of knowledge
• विद्याबलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विद्यायाः बलम्)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• साधनार्थम्: for accomplishing (his aim)
• साधनार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (साधनस्य अर्थः/अर्थम् = for the purpose of accomplishment)

• उपाययौ: approached; went near
• उपाययौ: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गुहेश्वरमुखानि: (the liṅgas) beginning with Guheśvara
• गुहेश्वरमुखानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहेश्वर + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गुहेश्वरस्य मुखानि)

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सप्तलिङ्गानि: seven liṅgas
• सप्तलिङ्गानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्तसंख्याकानि लिङ्गानि)

• अपূजयत्: worshipped
• अपূजयत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘अ-’ (augment)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī; Sapta-liṅga (beginning with Guheśvara)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vijaya, empowered by Kāśī’s vidyā-bala, arrives for sādhana and worships seven liṅgas in sequence, beginning with Guheśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• Guheśvara
• Śiva-liṅga (sapta-liṅga)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Kāśī empowers spiritual practice; systematic worship of Śiva-liṅgas supports success in mantra-sādhana.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), especially its liṅga-cult centered on Guheśvara and associated sacred liṅgas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Worship (pūjā) of seven Śiva-liṅgas, beginning with Guheśvara, as part of sādhana for spiritual accomplishment.