Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

इलालंकारमालेद्धा त्विंदिरारम्यमंदिरा । इदिंदिरादिसंसेव्या त्वीश्वरीश्वरवल्लभा

Transliteration

ilālaṃkāramāleddhā tviṃdirāramyamaṃdirā | idiṃdirādisaṃsevyā tvīśvarīśvaravallabhā

Translation

You are adorned with garlands that ornament the earth; you are the delightful abode of Lakṣmī. You are attended by Lakṣmī and the other divine powers, and you are the beloved of the Lord of Lords.

Word by Word

• इला-अलंकार-माला-एद्धा: adorned with a garland of earthly ornaments
• इला-अलंकार-माला-एद्धा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इला (प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + एद्धा (कृदन्त; √इध्/एध्, क्त/क्तवतु-भाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• इन्दिरा-रम्य-मन्दिरा: whose abode is delightfully Lakṣmī-like / a lovely temple
• इन्दिरा-रम्य-मन्दिरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्दिरा (प्रातिपदिक) + रम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (रम्यं मन्दिरं यस्याः/या)

• इद्: indeed (emphasis)
• इद्: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इद् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle, used in stotra-style)

• इन्दिरा-आदि-संसेव्या: to be attended/served by Lakṣmī and others
• इन्दिरा-आदि-संसेव्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्दिरा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय) + संसेव्या (कृदन्त; √सेव् + सम्, यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be served')

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• ईश्वरी-ईश्वर-वল্লभा: beloved of the Lord of lords / of Īśvara
• ईश्वरी-ईश्वर-वল্লभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Śrī-nilaya portrayal)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kāśī personified as a goddess-city adorned with garlands; Lakṣmī and attendant śaktis offer service; the Lord of Lords stands as the beloved, with the city-temple skyline as jeweled ornamentation of the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Indirā (Lakṣmī)
• Īśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred power worshipped in Kāśī unites prosperity (Lakṣmī) with devotion to Īśvara, making the devotee’s path whole.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is the implied sacred setting within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s praise sequence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Service/attendance (saṃsevā) is commended generally; no specific vrata or dāna is specified here.