Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

काश्याः सदोत्तराशायां पाशपाणिर्विनायकः । विनायकान्पाशयति भक्त्या काशीनिवासिनाम्

Transliteration

kāśyāḥ sadottarāśāyāṃ pāśapāṇirvināyakaḥ | vināyakānpāśayati bhaktyā kāśīnivāsinām

Translation

کاشی کے ہمیشہ شمالی حصّے میں پاشپانی وِنایک ہیں۔ کاشی کے رہنے والوں کی بھکتی کے سبب وہ وِنایکوں کو ‘پاش’ سے باندھ کر فتنہ انگیز قوتوں کو قابو میں رکھتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• kāśyāḥ: of Kāśī
• kāśyāḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

• uttara-āśāyām: in the northern direction
• uttara-āśāyām: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक) + āśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उत्तरा आशी/दिक्)

• pāśa-pāṇiḥ: the one who has a noose in hand
• pāśa-pāṇiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (पाशः पाणौ यस्य)

• vināyakaḥ: Vināyaka
• vināyakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vināyakān: (other) vināyakas
• vināyakān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• pāśayati: binds/ensnares
• pāśayati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāśaya (णिजन्त-धातु) < pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; नामधातु/णिजन्त ‘to bind with a noose’

• bhaktyā: by devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• kāśī-nivāsinām: of the residents of Kāśī
• kāśī-nivāsinām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsin (निवासिन्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (काश्यां निवासिनः)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Pāśapāṇi‑Vināyaka

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pāśapāṇi Gaṇeśa in the northern quarter holding a noose; subtle depiction of smaller vināyaka-spirits being gently bound/contained; Kāśī residents offer lamps and flowers, suggesting communal devotion maintaining harmony.

Characters & Entities

• Pāśapāṇi-Vināyaka
• Kāśī
• Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhakti is portrayed as a real spiritual power that restrains harmful tendencies and secures the sacred order of Kāśī.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Pāśapāṇi-Vināyaka located in the northern quarter of Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is stated; the verse highlights devotion (bhakti) of Kāśī’s residents as the effective means.