Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

अरूपाय सरूपाय नानारूपधराय च । विरूपाक्षाय विधये विधिविष्णुस्तुताय च

Transliteration

arūpāya sarūpāya nānārūpadharāya ca | virūpākṣāya vidhaye vidhiviṣṇustutāya ca

Translation

اُس کو نمسکار جو بے صورت بھی ہے اور صورت والا بھی؛ جو بے شمار روپ دھارتا ہے؛ تین آنکھوں والے پروردگار، مُقرِّرِ تقدیر کو نمسکار—جس کی برہما اور وِشنو بھی ستائش کرتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• अरूपाय: to the formless one
• अरूपाय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of शिव)

• सरूपाय: to the one with form
• सरूपाय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नाना-रूप-धराय: to the bearer of many forms
• नाना-रूप-धराय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु, ण्वुल्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): नानारूपाणि धरति इति

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• विरूपाक्षाय: to Virūpākṣa (the odd/unique-eyed one)
• विरूपाक्षाय: Sampradāna (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य (epithet of Śiva)

• विधये: to the ordainer (Vidhī)
• विधये: Sampradāna (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; शिवस्य नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• विधि-विष्णु-स्तुताय: to the one praised by Brahmā and Viṣṇu
• विधि-विष्णु-स्तुताय: Sampradāna-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुत (स्तु धातु, क्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): विधिना विष्णुना च स्तुतः (praised by Brahmā and Viṣṇu)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Jaigīṣavya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A theological vision rendered visually: Śiva simultaneously suggested as aniconic (liṅga-like radiance) and iconic (three-eyed, crescent-bearing), with Brahmā and Viṣṇu shown in the background offering praise; Jaigīṣavya recites in the foreground.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Virūpākṣa)
• Brahmā (Vidhi)
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Supreme can be approached as nirguṇa (formless) and saguṇa (with attributes); Śiva encompasses both.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions as a Kāśī-context stotra, reinforcing Kāśī’s identity as Śiva’s supreme abode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it is a stuti usable for recitation in Śiva-pūjā and pilgrimage worship in Kāśī.