Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 89

Devanagari script

आराध्य विष्णुं देवेशं लब्ध्वा तस्मात्स्वकांक्षितम् । भवतामपि सर्वेषां पदानि स्थिरयिष्यति

Transliteration

ārādhya viṣṇuṃ deveśaṃ labdhvā tasmātsvakāṃkṣitam | bhavatāmapi sarveṣāṃ padāni sthirayiṣyati

Translation

Nachdem er Viṣṇu, den Herrn der Götter, verehrt und von Ihm das Ersehnte erlangt hat, wird Dhruva auch die Stellungen von euch allen festigen.

Word by Word

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√राध् (धातु) → आराध्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (ल्यप्); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having worshipped)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देवेशम्: Karman (Apposition to object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक); देवेश (समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘देवानाम् ईशः’

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु) → लब्ध्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having obtained)

• तस्मात्: from him/therefrom
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• स्वकाङ्क्षितम्: what is desired by oneself
• स्वकाङ्क्षितम्: Karman (Object of ‘labdhvā’/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + काङ्क्षित (√काङ्क्ष्, क्त); स्वकाङ्क्षित (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘स्वं काङ्क्षितम्’ (one’s desired [thing])

• भवताम्: of you
• भवताम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनामवत्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; आदरार्थ (honorific ‘of you’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor-qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ‘भवताम्’)

• पदानि: positions/abodes
• पदानि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• स्थिरयिष्यति: will make (them) firm/secure
• स्थिरयिष्यति: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु) with णिच् → स्थिरयि-; स्थिरयिष्यति
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative: ‘will make firm’)

Speaker

Brahmā

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Audience within Kāśī discourse

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā explains Dhruva’s worship of Viṣṇu and its outcome: Dhruva’s boon becomes a stabilizing force for the devas’ stations; imagery suggests a fixed celestial axis.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Brahmā
• Devas
• Dhruva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When devotion is directed to the Supreme, it upholds cosmic harmony and benefits even those who fear change.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśīkhaṇḍa frame glorifies Kāśī, but this verse centers on Viṣṇu-worship and its cosmic effects.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Ārādhana (devotional worship/propitiation) of Viṣṇu is implied as the means to attain rightful desires.