Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

देवेषु दिवितिष्ठत्सु मयि तिष्ठति भूतले । असपत्नेन राज्येन प्रजासौख्यमवाप्स्यति

Transliteration

deveṣu divitiṣṭhatsu mayi tiṣṭhati bhūtale | asapatnena rājyena prajāsaukhyamavāpsyati

Translation

„Wenn die Devas im Himmel verweilen und ich auf Erden bleibe, wird mein Volk durch eine Herrschaft ohne Rivalen Glück erlangen.“

Word by Word

• देवेषु: among/with the gods
• देवेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिष्ठत्सु: while (they are) staying
• तिष्ठत्सु: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'देवेषु' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मयि: in/with me
• मयि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तिष्ठति: stays
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भूतले: on the earth
• भूतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: भू + तल (भूमेः तलम्)

• असपत्नेन: without rivals
• असपत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असपत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'राज्येन' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• राज्येन: by/with kingship
• राज्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजासौख्यम्: the happiness of the subjects
• प्रजासौख्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां सौख्यम्)

• अवाप्स्यति: will obtain
• अवाप्स्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः अव-

Speaker

The King (continuing, contextually Divodāsa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brahmā (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: devas ascending to heaven while the king stands on earth, suggesting a stabilized realm; citizens appear content under orderly rule.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Divodāsa
• Prajā (subjects)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rājadharma is measured by prajā-sukha (the people’s welfare); stable, undivided rule is presented as a condition for social flourishing.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s sacred polity is the backdrop—its Mahātmya often presents Kāśī as a unique realm where dharma, kingship, and divine presence intersect.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is a statement of governance and intended outcome (prajā-sukha).