Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 78

Devanagari script

बालं रत्नैरलंकृत्य बद्ध्वा तं शिशुमारकम् । समर्पितं समानीय शंभुपादाब्जसंनिधौ

Transliteration

bālaṃ ratnairalaṃkṛtya baddhvā taṃ śiśumārakam | samarpitaṃ samānīya śaṃbhupādābjasaṃnidhau

Translation

Họ trang sức đứa trẻ bằng châu báu, trói chặt con cá sấu ấy, rồi đưa trở về và kính dâng lên gần đôi chân sen của Śambhu (Śiva).

Word by Word

• बालम्: the boy
• बालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• रत्नैः: with jewels
• रत्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• अलंकृत्य: having adorned
• अलंकृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलङ्कृ (धातु) → अलंकृत्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) (having adorned)

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध्वा (क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) (having bound)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• शिशुमारकम्: (as) a porpoise/dolphin (creature)
• शिशुमारकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• समर्पितम्: offered
• समर्पितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्प् (धातु) → समर्पित (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (offered)

• समानीय: having brought
• समानीय: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + नी (धातु) → समानीय (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) (having brought)

• शंभुपादाब्जसंनिधौ: in the presence of Śambhu’s lotus-feet
• शंभुपादाब्जसंनिधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु + पाद + अब्ज + संनिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘शंभोः पादाब्जस्य संनिधिः’ (Locative singular)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī; Śambhu-pāda-sannidhi (Śiva’s presence)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The child, now adorned with jewels, is respectfully placed near Śiva’s lotus-feet; the crocodile is bound, subdued, and brought as proof of restored dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Child (Kardama’s son)
• Śiśumāra (crocodile)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All resolutions culminate at Śiva’s feet—divine justice restores what was lost and turns danger into a testimony of grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse glorifies Śambhu’s presence as the ultimate refuge within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s sacred landscape; the exact shrine/tirtha name is not specified here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite is prescribed, but the act of approaching Śiva’s lotus-feet reflects śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) as a devotional practice.