Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 97

Devanagari script

इत्थं विमृश्य बहुशः स्थाणुर्वाराणसीगुणान् । गणानन्यान्समाहूय प्राहिणोत्प्रीतिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

itthaṃ vimṛśya bahuśaḥ sthāṇurvārāṇasīguṇān | gaṇānanyānsamāhūya prāhiṇotprītipūrvakam

Translation

如是反复思惟婆罗那西（Vārāṇasī）之诸德，斯陀努（Śiva）召集其他众伽那，并以慈悦之心遣派他们前往。

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• विमृश्य: having reflected
• विमृश्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having reflected’

• बहुशः: many times, repeatedly
• बहुशः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• स्थाणुः: Sthāṇu (Śiva)
• स्थाणुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शिवनाम

• वाराणसीगुणान्: the qualities of Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसीगुणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाराणस्याः गुणाः)

• गणान्: groups/attendants
• गणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समाहूय: having called together
• समाहूय: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having summoned’

• प्राहिणोत्: sent forth, dispatched
• प्राहिणोत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हि (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रीतिपूर्वकम्: with pleasure, gladly
• प्रीतिपूर्वकम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva as Sthāṇu seated in a divine assembly, serene yet intent, contemplating Vārāṇasī’s virtues; gaṇas gather in attendance, receiving instructions with folded hands before departing.

Characters & Entities

• Sthāṇu
• Śiva
• Vārāṇasī
• Gaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The greatness of Vārāṇasī is so eminent that Śiva repeatedly contemplates it and actively supports its sacred order through his attendants.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Vārāṇasī (Kāśī), praised through its guṇas (excellences).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse advances the narrative of Śiva’s protective and organizing role via the gaṇas.