Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

अपि यो भगवानीशो मनःप्राचामगोचरः । समादृशैरल्पधीभिः कथं स्तुत्यो वचः परः

Transliteration

api yo bhagavānīśo manaḥprācāmagocaraḥ | samādṛśairalpadhībhiḥ kathaṃ stutyo vacaḥ paraḥ

Translation

Wie könnte jener selige Herr, der Souverän jenseits der Reichweite von Geist und Sinneswahrnehmung, von Menschen wie uns, von geringem Verstand, mit so begrenzten Worten gepriesen werden?

Word by Word

• अपि: even/indeed
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (even/indeed)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनः-प्रचारम्-अगोचरः: beyond the reach of the mind
• मनः-प्रचारम्-अगोचरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रचार (प्रातिपदिक) + अगोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—मनसः प्रचारस्य अगोचरः (beyond the range of mental movement)

• समादृशैः: by those of equal (limited) outlook
• समादृशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (अल्पधीभिः इति)

• अल्पधीभिः: by small-minded/limited-intellect persons
• अल्पधीभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः—अल्पा धीः येषां तैः

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (Interrogative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (how?)

• स्तुत्यः: praiseworthy / fit to be praised
• स्तुत्यः: Predicate (Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: worthy to be praised)

• वचः: by speech/words
• वचः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (ईशः/भगवान् इति)

Speaker

Agnibiṃdu

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśīkṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A small group of pilgrims in Kāśī sit in meditation by the Ganga; above them, an ungraspable luminous presence symbolizes the Lord beyond senses; their faces show humility and awe.

Characters & Entities

• Īśa (Lord)
• Bhagavān (Viṣṇu/Govinda implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual maturity includes humility: recognizing the limits of intellect while continuing devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī’s devotional landscape is the narrative frame; Pañcanadā is the immediate locale in the passage.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a contemplative reflection within a hymn.