Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

रत्नेशः पंचमं लिंगं षष्ठं चंद्रेश्वराभिधम् । केदारः सप्तमं लिंगं धर्मेशश्चाष्टमं प्रिये

Transliteration

ratneśaḥ paṃcamaṃ liṃgaṃ ṣaṣṭhaṃ caṃdreśvarābhidham | kedāraḥ saptamaṃ liṃgaṃ dharmeśaścāṣṭamaṃ priye

Translation

รัตเนศะเป็นลึงค์องค์ที่ห้า และองค์ที่หกมีนามว่าจันเทรศวระ เกดาระเป็นลึงค์องค์ที่เจ็ด และธรรมเมศะเป็นองค์ที่แปด โอ้ที่รัก

Word by Word

• रत्नेशः: Ratneśa
• रत्नेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रत्नानाम् ईशः)

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• षष्ठम्: the sixth
• षष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• चन्द्रेश्वर-अभिधम्: called ‘Candreśvara’
• चन्द्रेश्वर-अभिधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रेश्वर इति अभिधं = ‘named Candra-īśvara’)

• केदारः: Kedāra
• केदारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सप्तमम्: the seventh
• सप्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धर्मेशः: Dharmeśa
• धर्मेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य ईशः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• अष्टमम्: the eighth
• अष्टमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• प्रिये: O beloved
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ratneśa, Candreśvara, Kedāra, Dharmeśa (Kāśī liṅgas)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: a beloved interlocutor (commonly Devasenā)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Four shrines in sequence: Ratneśa sparkling with gem-like light; Candreśvara bathed in moonlight; Kedāra with Himalayan motif backdrop; Dharmeśa with scales/śāstra motif and calm devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Ratneśa Liṅga
• Candreśvara Liṅga
• Kedāra Liṅga
• Dharmeśa Liṅga
• Kāśī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The dhārmic landscape of Kāśī is structured through named manifestations of Śiva, guiding devotees to approach liberation through sacred places and worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī/Ānandakānana, specifically its 5th–8th principal liṅgas: Ratneśa, Candreśvara, Kedāra, and Dharmeśa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse continues the canonical listing used for yātrā (pilgrimage) and arcana (worship).