Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

यं स्तोतुं नाधिगच्छंति वाचो वाचस्पतेरपि । तमीष्टे क इह स्तोतुं भक्तिरत्र बलीयसी

Transliteration

yaṃ stotuṃ nādhigacchaṃti vāco vācaspaterapi | tamīṣṭe ka iha stotuṃ bhaktiratra balīyasī

Translation

Even the words of Vācaspati, lord of speech, cannot reach Him to praise Him as He truly is. Who here could wish to extol Him? Yet in this matter devotion is the stronger power.

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), √स्तु—स्तौति

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अधिगच्छन्ति: reach/attain
• अधिगच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद; √गम् with उपसर्ग अधि

• वाचः: words/speech
• वाचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वाचस्पतेः: of Vācaspati (lord of speech)
• वाचस्पतेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also/even)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• ईष्टे: desires/wishes
• ईष्टे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; √इष्—इच्छति/ईष्टे (desires)

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

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive)

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अत्र: here/in this case
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this matter)

• बलीयसी: stronger/more powerful
• बलीयसी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); तुलनात्मक-प्रत्यय (Comparative): बलीयस्

Speaker

Agnibiṃdu

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśīkṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vācaspati (Bṛhaspati) stands with a scroll or rosary, humbled; the devotee’s simple folded hands glow with devotion, suggesting bhakti’s superiority over eloquence.

Characters & Entities

• Vācaspati (Bṛhaspati)
• Govinda/Viṣṇu (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

God transcends language; sincere devotion accomplishes what eloquence cannot.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a Kāśī-centered episode, with the broader sanctity of Pañcanadā in the surrounding context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual; it validates heartfelt bhakti as the essential offering.