Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 46
क्रांतलोकत्रयाकंडूः कंडूतनयवत्सला । खड्गिनी खड्गधाराभा खगा खंडेंदुधारिणी
krāṃtalokatrayākaṃḍūḥ kaṃḍūtanayavatsalā | khaḍginī khaḍgadhārābhā khagā khaṃḍeṃdudhāriṇī
اے دیوی! تو تینوں لوکوں سے آگے بڑھ کر اُنہیں جنبش میں لانے والی ہے؛ کَندو کے بیٹے پر ماں جیسی شفقت کرنے والی۔ تلوار بردار، دھار کی چمک کی مانند روشن؛ پرندے کی طرح تیز، تو ہلالِ ماہ کو دھارنے والی ہے۔
Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrim audience within the chapter frame (implicit)
Scene: Devī soaring like a bird above the three worlds, crescent moon on her crown, sword flashing like a blade’s edge; below, devotees sheltered; a tender glance toward Kaṇḍū’s son indicating vātsalya amid power.
FAQs
The Goddess is both cosmic in scope (transcending the three worlds) and personally protective, appearing as a fierce guardian who upholds devotees.
The praise is situated within Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī-centered sanctity, where divine protection and liberation are central themes.
No explicit ritual is given; the verse is a protective stuti suitable for recitation.