Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 99

Devanagari script

ज्वलत्केशः कंबुशिराः खर्वग्रीवो महाहनुः । महानासो लंबकर्णः कर्णप्रावरणोनसः

Transliteration

jvalatkeśaḥ kaṃbuśirāḥ kharvagrīvo mahāhanuḥ | mahānāso laṃbakarṇaḥ karṇaprāvaraṇonasaḥ

Translation

ผู้หนึ่งมีเส้นผมลุกโพลง; ผู้หนึ่งมีศีรษะดุจสังข์อันศักดิ์สิทธิ์. ผู้หนึ่งคอสั้น; ผู้หนึ่งขากรรไกรใหญ่ยิ่ง. ผู้หนึ่งจมูกใหญ่; ผู้หนึ่งหูยาว; และผู้หนึ่งหูยาวจนปิดจมูกได้.

Word by Word

• ज्वलत्-केशः: with blazing hair
• ज्वलत्-केशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत् (कृदन्त; ज्वल् धातु, शतृ) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ज्वलन्तः केशाः यस्य)

• कम्बु-शिराः: conch-headed
• कम्बु-शिराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस्/शिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (शिराः-रूपः); तत्पुरुषः (कम्बुवत् शिरः यस्य)

• खर्व-ग्रीवः: short-necked
• खर्व-ग्रीवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (खर्वा ग्रीवा यस्य)

• महा-हनुः: large-jawed
• महा-हनुः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + हनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती हनुः यस्य)

• महा-नासः: big-nosed
• महा-नासः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् नासः यस्य)

• लम्ब-कर्णः: long-eared
• लम्ब-कर्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (लम्बौ कर्णौ यस्य)

• कर्ण-प्रावरण-नासः: whose nose is covered by the ears (ears as a covering)
• कर्ण-प्रावरण-नासः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रावरण (प्रातिपदिक) + नास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्णयोः प्रावरणं नासः/नासिका यस्य; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: a sage (muni)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Guardians with flaming hair, conch-like heads, short necks, massive jaws, great noses, long ears, and one whose ears drape to cover the nose—standing in vigilant poses at the kṣetra’s edge.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Guardian beings (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The text magnifies the sacred boundary of Kāśī by portraying guardians of extraordinary, fear-inducing power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), as a divinely protected mokṣa-kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual instruction is provided here.