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

How can that Blessed Lord, the Sovereign beyond the range of mind and sense-perception, be praised by people like us—small in understanding—using words so limited?

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.