Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

स्तुत्वा नत्वार्चयित्वा च यथाशक्ति यथामति । अविमुक्ते विमुक्तेशं स्तूयते नम्यतेऽर्च्यते

Transliteration

stutvā natvārcayitvā ca yathāśakti yathāmati | avimukte vimukteśaṃ stūyate namyate'rcyate

Translation

随己之力与慧解而赞颂、顶礼、供奉：当于阿毗穆克塔（Avimukta）赞叹、礼拜并敬奉解脱主毗穆克提湿（Vimukteśa）。

Word by Word

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु-स्तु; ‘स्तुत्वा’

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु-नम्; ‘नत्वा’

• अर्चयित्वा: having worshipped
• अर्चयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु-अर्च्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा-शक्ति: according to one’s ability
• यथा-शक्ति: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम्—‘शक्त्यानुसारम्/यथाशक्ति’

• यथा-मति: according to one’s understanding
• यथा-मति: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम्—‘मत्यानुसारम्/यथामति’

• अविमुक्ते: in Avimukta (Kāśī)
• अविमुक्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अविमुक्ते’ = अविमुक्त-क्षेत्रे

• विमुक्त-ईशम्: Vimukteśa (Lord of the liberated)
• विमुक्त-ईशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्त + ईश (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘विमुक्तानाम् ईशः’)

• स्तूयते: is praised
• स्तूयते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• नम्यते: is bowed to
• नम्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• अर्च्यते: is worshipped
• अर्च्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vimukteśa/Avimukteśvara in Avimukta

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-seeking audience (not specified in excerpt)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sequence-like depiction: devotee recites a hymn, then prostrates, then offers flowers to Vimukteśa in Avimukta; the scene highlights humble means—simple offerings, deep reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Vimukteśa (Avimukteśvara)
• Avimukta (Kāśī/Varanasi)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sincere devotion—expressed through praise, prostration, and worship—when done with one’s best capacity, is upheld as the proper approach to liberation-granting Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Avimukta in Kāśī, the sacred zone where Vimukteśa/Avimukteśvara is specially worshipped.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Stuti (hymn/praise), namaskāra (bowing), and arcana (pūjā) performed yathāśakti—within one’s means.