Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

घातयेद्दूरसंस्थोपि यः पांथपरिपंथिनः । व्याघ्रादीन् दुष्टसत्त्वांश्च स हिनस्ति प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

ghātayeddūrasaṃsthopi yaḥ pāṃthaparipaṃthinaḥ | vyāghrādīn duṣṭasattvāṃśca sa hinasti prayatnataḥ

Translation

దూరంలో ఉన్నప్పటికీ యాత్రికులను అడ్డగించే పరిపంథులను—వ్యాఘ్రాది దుష్టసత్త్వాలను—ప్రయత్నపూర్వకంగా సంహరించువాడు మార్గరక్షణార్థం దృఢంగా కార్యం చేయుచున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• ghātayet: should cause to be killed / should have killed
• ghātayet: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghātaya (धातु √घात्/√हन् causative; प्रेरणार्थक)
• Form: लकारः विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 3 (प्रथम), वचनम् एकवचनम्; causative (णिच्)

• dūra-saṃsthaḥ: being at a distance
• dūra-saṃsthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (qualifier of yaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अर्थः ‘even/also’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचकः सर्वनाम

• pāṃtha-paripaṃthinaḥ: highwaymen who waylay travelers
• pāṃtha-paripaṃthinaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṃtha (प्रातिपदिक) + paripaṃthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मपदम्

• vyāghra-ādīn: tigers and the like
• vyāghra-ādīn: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; ‘आदि’समासः (etc.)

• duṣṭa-sattvān: wicked creatures/beings
• duṣṭa-sattvān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधकः अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• hinasti: kills/destroys
• hinasti: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 3, वचनम् एकवचनम्

• prayatnataḥ: with effort
• prayatnataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (ablatival adverb): ‘by effort/with exertion’

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (yātrā-mārga-sevā context)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vigilant road-guardian/hunter stands at a distance with bow or spear, driving away or striking a tiger and other predatory beings near a pilgrim path; weary pilgrims with staffs and waterpots move safely behind him under sacred trees.

Characters & Entities

• Piṅgākṣa
• pāthika (traveler)
• vyāghra (tiger)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Protection of pilgrims and travelers is upheld as dharma; force is justified only to remove grave danger and restore safety.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-kṣetra context is implied; the verse supports safe passage for those journeying through Kāśī’s sacred region and forests.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; the teaching emphasizes righteous conduct—removing threats and ensuring safety for wayfarers.