Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

ते धन्याः सर्वलोकेषु सर्वधर्माश्रयाश्च ते । यतंते सर्वभावेन परोपकरणाय ये

Transliteration

te dhanyāḥ sarvalokeṣu sarvadharmāśrayāśca te | yataṃte sarvabhāvena paropakaraṇāya ye

Translation

Blessed are they in all worlds; they are the very refuge of all dharmas—those who strive with their whole being for the welfare of others.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• धन्याः: blessed
• धन्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ते)

• सर्वलोकेषु: in all worlds
• सर्वलोकेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वलोक (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व+लोक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• सर्वधर्माश्रयाः: having refuge in all dharmas / grounded in all righteousness
• सर्वधर्माश्रयाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वधर्म (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व+धर्म) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ते)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic)

• यतन्ते: strive
• यतन्ते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सर्वभावेन: with their whole being
• सर्वभावेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व+भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘with whole being’

• परोपकरणाय: for helping others
• परोपकरणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परोपकरण (प्रातिपदिक; पर+उपकरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Relative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Śiva (continuing instruction to Devī)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A declarative, blessing-like moment: Śiva’s words seem to radiate outward, as if honoring all who labor for the common good; Sulakṣaṇā stands as exemplar.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Pārvatī (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The pinnacle of dharma is wholehearted service; such people become the living foundation of righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the textual locus; the verse expresses the kṣetra’s dharmic ideal rather than naming a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is stated; the practice recommended is sustained, wholehearted paropakāra.