Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

जय सर्वबलाधीश बलाराति बलप्रद । बलाकोज्ज्वल दंताग्र बालाबालपराकम

Transliteration

jaya sarvabalādhīśa balārāti balaprada | balākojjvala daṃtāgra bālābālaparākama

Translation

آپ کو جے، تمام قوت کے مالک—قوت کے دشمنوں کے قاتل اور قوت عطا کرنے والے۔ آپ کے دانت کی نوک سفید بگلے کی طرح روشن ہے؛ آپ کی شجاعت نوجوان اور زورآور دونوں پر غالب و ناقابلِ روک ہے۔

Word by Word

• जय: hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय; संबोधनार्थे

• सर्व-बल-अधीश: lord of all strength
• सर्व-बल-अधीश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); ‘सर्वेषां बलानाम् अधीशः’ (lord of all powers/strengths)

• बल-अराति: foe of (others’) strength
• बल-अराति: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); ‘बलस्य अरातिः’ (enemy of strength; i.e., destroyer of opponents’ strength)

• बल-प्रद: giver of strength
• बल-प्रद: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्र+दा धातु + क/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); ‘बलं प्रददाति’ (giver of strength)

• बलाक-उज्ज्वल: radiant white like a crane
• बलाक-उज्ज्वल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलाक (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (in address); ‘बलाक इव उज्ज्वलः’ (bright like a heron/white as a crane)

• दन्त-अग्र: tusk-tip
• दन्त-अग्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed/epithet); ‘दन्तस्य अग्रं’ (tip of the tusk/tooth)

• बाल-अबाल-पराक्रम: whose valour (protects) children and adults
• बाल-अबाल-पराक्रम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अबाल (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (addressed); द्वन्द्वः ‘बालाश्च अबालाश्च’ (children and non-children/adults) + पराक्रमः (valour)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (threshold/auxiliary shrine context)

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A powerful elephant-headed deity stands as lord of strength, tusk-tip gleaming white; devotees—young and strong alike—seek his blessing before entering a Kāśī shrine; defeated ‘foes of strength’ appear as shadowy obstacles dissolving.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine strength is both protective and empowering; Gaṇeśa removes the forces that weaken resolve and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the overarching sacred geography; the praise supports auspicious worship within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the verse functions as protective stuti for spiritual and worldly undertakings.