Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

जय सर्वग सर्वेश सर्वबुद्ध्येकशेवधे । सर्वमायाप्रपंचज्ञ सर्वकर्माग्रपूजित

Transliteration

jaya sarvaga sarveśa sarvabuddhyekaśevadhe | sarvamāyāprapaṃcajña sarvakarmāgrapūjita

Translation

Sieg dir, Herr aller Scharen, Gebieter über alles; einziger Schatz jeder Erkenntnis. Kenner der ganzen Weite des mannigfachen Spiels der Māyā, wirst du als Erster verehrt, an der Spitze aller Riten und Handlungen.

Word by Word

• जय: hail
• जय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; जय-सम्बोधन

• सर्वग: O all-pervading one
• सर्वग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वत्र गच्छति/व्याप्नोति)

• सर्वेश: O lord of all
• सर्वेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य ईशः)

• सर्वबुद्ध्येकशेवधे: O sole treasure of all intellects
• सर्वबुद्ध्येकशेवधे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + शेवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वबुद्धीनाम् एकः शेवधिः)

• सर्वमायाप्रपंचज्ञ: O knower of all māyā’s manifestations
• सर्वमायाप्रपंचज्ञ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वमायाप्रपञ्चं जानाति)

• सर्वकर्माग्रपूजित: O worshipped first in all rites
• सर्वकर्माग्रपूजित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वकर्मणाम् अग्रे पूजितः)

Speaker

Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Gaṇeśa (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaṇeśa is envisioned as the luminous source of intelligence, with symbolic māyā-patterns (interlaced veils, cosmic diagrams) surrounding him; worshippers place him at the head of ritual implements, signifying first worship.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa
• Māyā
• Karma (rites/actions)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Gaṇeśa is invoked as the principle of right understanding and auspicious beginnings—hence worshipped first so actions align with dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it serves the larger Kāśī Khaṇḍa devotional framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Gaṇeśa is to be worshipped at the start of all karmas (sarvakarmāgra-pūjita).