Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

धनंजय इवाधाक्षीत्परारण्यान्यनेकशः । पाशीव पाशयांचक्रे वैरिचक्रं विदूरगः

Transliteration

dhanaṃjaya ivādhākṣītparāraṇyānyanekaśaḥ | pāśīva pāśayāṃcakre vairicakraṃ vidūragaḥ

Translation

دھنجے (ارجن) کی مانند اُس نے دشمنوں کے بہت سے جنگل روند ڈالے؛ اور پھندے کے دھارک کی طرح، دور ہی سے دشمنوں کے حلقوں کو جکڑ لیا۔

Word by Word

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानसूचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अधाक्षीत्: he conquered/overpowered
• अधाक्षीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + अङ्क्ष्/अक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पर-अरण्यानि: enemy/foreign forests (territories)
• पर-अरण्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (पराणि अरण्यानि)

• अनेकशः: many times; in many ways
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/आवृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• पाशी: the noose-bearer (Yama/Varuṇa)
• पाशी: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘पाश’धारी (one who has a noose)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानसूचक अव्यय

• पाशयान्: nooses
• पाशयान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• चक्रे: he made/formed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वैरि-चक्रम्: the circle/host of enemies
• वैरि-चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरि + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैरिणां चक्रम्)

• विदूरगः: far-going; far-reaching
• विदूरगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदूरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A warrior-king advances through dense forests, bow drawn; enemies are caught as if by an unseen noose cast from afar; the forest opens into a cleared path symbolizing restored order.

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Divodāsa (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma-protecting strength is both courageous and strategic—subduing threats decisively while safeguarding the realm.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse advances the Kāśī/Vārāṇasī narrative by praising the king whose rule secures the sacred city’s stability.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a heroic comparison and description.